Ruto lauds Nakhumicha, CS Barasa for 'wonderful job' in Health ministry

President William Ruto has commended former Health CS Susan Nakhumicha and her successor Deborah Barasa for delivering in the healthcare docket.

The President said that the two leaders have done a "wonderful job" in the Health ministry.

Nakhumicha was the Health CS before the President reshuffled his Cabinet in June last year and axed some members including her.

Ruto took the drastic action at the height of Gen Z-led anti-government protests, which were sparked by outrage over the passage of the now impugned Finance Bill, 2024.

The President sent everyone packing except Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi before reconstituting the Cabinet with some new faces, including members of the opposition ODM party in the spirit of forming a unity government.

Ruto appointed Barasa in Nakhumicha's stead to head the Health docket in the new-look broad-based government.

Since assuming office in 2024, Barasa has faced a huge task of implementing the Social Health Insurance Fund rolled out in October 2024.

While speaking in Kiminini during the burial ceremony of former Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission chair Wafula Chebukati, Ruto lauded the two leaders saying they have helped him toward the realisation of universal healthcare.

“I must thank two leaders, former Health CS Susan Nakhumicha who started with me and current Health CS Deborah Barasa who is helping me in that sector.

The President said that the Health sector will succeed because the government knows what it is doing.

“We used to have a health insurance which was treating those who have jobs and those who are able. We can’t continue like that. We want to make sure that we have a healthcare system that treats Kenyans equally, those who have jobs, those who are able and those unable,” Ruto said.

He added that the government is now making progress and has agreed on how they will deal with shortages of medicine and commodities.

“We have agreed on how we are going to make sure that there is equipment in our hospitals. We are going to make plan on how we are going to deliver health,” he said.

The President drummed up support for the new healthcare system saying it promotes inclusivity for everyone to access healthcare.

Ruto said that it is a constitutional imperative to avail healthcare to Kenyans.

“The constitution says, healthcare must be of the highest quality and standard to every citizen, we are not only discharging a manifesto commitment but a constitutional imperative,” the President said.