Health CS clashes with the PS Over appointments at the ministry
Health CS Deborah Barasa, and PS Harry Kimtai differ Over the appointment of Andrew Mulwa as NASCOP head
Health CS Deborah Barasa, and PS Harry Kimtai differ Over the appointment of Andrew Mulwa as NASCOP head.
A supremacy battle is brewing at the Ministry of Health after divisions over recent appointments between Cabinet Secretary for Health Deborah Mulongo and Principal Secretary Harry Kimtai.
The latest tension arises from PS Harry Kimtai’s decision to appoint former Kenya Medical Supplies Authority (KEMSA) boss Andrew Mulwa to head the National AIDS and STI Control Programme (NASCOP).
This move was subsequently revoked by his boss, Health CS Deborah Mulongo.
Despite the revocation by the CS, PS Kimtai has maintained his decision, insisting that he is the legitimate authorised appointing officer.
CS Mulongo is reported to have rejected the appointment five months ago when Kimtai made the changes, only for Mulwa (the appointee) to report to the office on Monday, January 13.
This is despite the CS writing a reminder letter to her PS, reiterating the decision to revoke the appointment after a meeting that involved extensive consultations with officials from the Office of the President.
It appears that the deployment of Mulwa to NASCOP by the PS is not the only bone of contention but also other appointments, including those to divisions such as the Division of Healthy Ageing, Palliative Care, and Older Persons.
In her letter, Deborah directed the PS to rescind all recent deployments with immediate effect and reinstate all affected officers to their original positions. However, the directive was ignored.
Interestingly, what might be at the centre of the dispute is Kimtai’s decision to reshuffle the former head of NASCOP, Rose Nafula, to the Palliative Care Division.
Kimtai, however, defended his actions, stating that the appointments were a routine occurrence. He argued that there was nothing untoward about the move, describing the transfer of Nafula from NASCOP to the Palliative Care Division as a standard reshuffle.
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According to him, the reshuffle was neither a promotion nor a demotion as the two are still Deputy Directors at the Ministry of Health.
He added, ” We are still reviewing the Memo from the Health CS. It is not a war between me and her.”
The latest supremacy battle at Kenya’s Ministry of Health threatens to deepen divisions within Afya House, an institution already notorious for controversies and power struggles.
Previous standoffs at Afya House have seen Kenya’s Ministry of Health rocked by power struggles and corruption scandals, many of which are still under investigation.
These include the Kenya Medical Supplies Authority (KEMSA) scandal, the malaria nets controversy, mismanagement of COVID-19 funds, irregularities within the National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF), and the cancer equipment procurement scandal, among others.
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