NAIROBI, Kenya, May 16 — President William Ruto has reassigned seven Principle Secretaries in a reshuffle following the sacking of Public Health Principal Secretary Josephine Mburu.
Correctional Services Principal Secretary Mary Muthoni was named the new PS responsible for the Public Health docket yielding her portfolio to Ether Ngero who ceded the Performance Management docket in the Prime Cabinet Secretary’s Office.
Ruto moved Medical Services PS Peter Tum to Sports.
Livestock PS Harry Kimtai took Tum’s slot at Afya House relinquishing the docket he held to Jonathan Mueke who served as Sports PS.
Forestry PS Ephantus Kimani swaped slots with Irrigation’s Gitonga Mugambi.
Ruto fired Mburu on Monday over graft allegations on the donor-funded National Malaria Programme.
Felix Koskei, the Head of the Public Service, said Monday that the decision comes following complaints of alleged impropriety within the Kenya Medical Supplies Authority (KEMSA) in its management and administration of various medical programmes being undertaken by Kenya in conjunction with its development partners.
“THE COMPLAINTS FOLLOW the regular verification of expenditure by the Global Fund with regard to the National Malaria Programme that targets millions of low income Kenyan households within our nation’s malaria endemic regions,” Koskei, who doubles up as Ruto’s Chief of Staff said.
He further stated that the alleged maladministration on the part of KEMSA is with regard to the procurement of treated mosquito nets for those vulnerable households, which he says could have led to significant exposure to the disease and increase in its severity in the endemic regions.
Anti-graft efforts
Koskei pointed out that the move is an affirmation of President William Ruto’s commitment to “entrenching of good governance within our national life by promoting accountability and openness in the management of public affairs.”
The Head of Public Service pointed out that President Ruto’s Government is committed to heralding a new era in the management of the country’s healthcare by ensuring that no Kenyan will be denied the dignity of affordable medical care due to corruption.
He maintained that the government will do whatever it takes to ensure accountability in the country’s health sector.
“Therefore, in keeping with the Administration’s Health policy of “leaving no one behind”, the Administration will spare no effort in rebuilding the KEMSA supply chain management system so as to secure efficiency and accountability in the provision of medical supplies to all health facilities across our nation,” he said.
