Ruto Shakes Up Top Health Boards in Major Overhaul of Public Institutions
In a sweeping shake-up of Kenya’s health sector, President William Ruto has announced a series of high-profile appointments to key national public health institutions, a move aimed at boosting accountability and improving service delivery.
In a gazette notice dated Friday, July 25, President Ruto appointed Samier Muravvej as the new non-executive chairperson of the Board of the National Syndemic Diseases Control Council. Muravvej, who assumes office with immediate effect, will serve a three-year term at the helm of the council, which oversees the country’s response to complex health syndemics such as HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and substance abuse.
Simultaneously, Ruto appointed Paul Ndung’u Kariuki as the new non-executive chairperson of the Kenya National Public Health Institute, replacing David Ndegwa Nyokabi, whose appointment was revoked. Nyokabi had been appointed in August 2023.
“I, William Samoei Ruto, President of the Republic of Kenya and Commander-in-Chief of the Defence Forces, appoint Paul Ndung’u Kariuki to be the Non-Executive Chairperson of the Kenya National Public Health Institute,” the President declared in the gazette notice.
The shake-up continued with the appointment of Frederick Namenya Were as the new chairperson of the Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Council (KMPDC). He takes over from Stanley Khainga, whose tenure began in March 2023.
In yet another major move, former Kenya Red Cross CEO Abbas Gullet was tapped to serve as the non-executive chairperson of the Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) Board. Gullet, known for his two-decade tenure at the Red Cross, was appointed on Friday, July 22, and will serve for a three-year term. His appointment effectively revokes the previous appointment of Dr. Samier Muravvej to the KNH board.
These sweeping appointments signal the Ruto administration’s continued restructuring of key public institutions to streamline operations and restore public confidence in the delivery of health services across the country.
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Ruto Shakes Up Top Health Boards in Major Overhaul of Public Institutions