Wetang’ula allied MPs claim PSs fighting Health CS Debora

A simmering row is brewing within President William Ruto’s government, days after his deal with ODM boss Raila Odinga, amid indications that a major overhaul is in the works.

MPs from National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula’s Bungoma backyard yesterday accused top officials within the Kenya Kwanza administration, including a sitting Cabinet Secretary of undermining Health CS Deborah Barasa.

MPs John Waluke (Sirisia), John Chikati (Tongaren), Wanami Wamboka (Bumula), Martin Wanyonyi (Webuye East) and Majimbo Kalasinga (Kabuchai) vowed to name and shame those involved in the scheme.

Apart from the CS, whom they declined to name, the MPs also accused the docket’s Principal Secretaries of being part of the plot to undermine Barasa — a medical doctor by profession — who ascended to the top job hardly eight months ago.

Health ministry has two PSs – Harry Kimtai (Medical Services) and Mary Muthoni (Public Health). Neither Kimtai nor Muthoni responded to our phone calls or text messages when we reached out to them at 4pm for a rejoinder.

The claims could have been triggered by jitters over impending changes at the apex of the Executive, amid indications that Barasa could be amongst the casualties.

President Ruto is expected to make sweeping changes in his government to reflect the new political realities, after his deal with Raila.

However, the grumbling could be a pointer to bigger problems in government. It is widely held that Barasa was fronted for appointment by the Ford Kenya wing of Kenya Kwanza led by Wetang’ula.

It is unclear why the CS’s alleged woes cannot be resolved internally. The Star exclusively reported last week of expected changes in the Agriculture, Health and Water ministries.

According to the five MPs, the plan is to paint Barasa as incompetent and leave her exposed - at a time talks of reshuffle in the Cabinet are rife.

“It is funny that a Minister can make an appointment and a PS revokes the appointment. Where has it ever happened? We are not aware. She can’t even appoint a person,” Kalasinga said.

PS Kimtai had on December 20, 2024, issued an internal memo to the Acting Deputy Director General formally authorising the deployment of Andrew Mulwa to NASCOP.

However, the appointment was revoked by Barasa. But the PS eventually prevailed and made another appointment. That was the starting point of Barasa’s woes, Kalasinga said, but is being escalated now as there are speculations of changes.

“We know these people and we shall soon be revealing their names should they continue doing this. We are telling these people to the leave the minister alone as she is capable of handling the ministry,” Chikati said.

The CS linked to the smear campaign – according to the Waluke – had once served in the docket and recently made a comeback in the broad-based Cabinet.

“We know what is going on in the Ministry of Health. We are going to name them. It is clear that the cartels behind this move have stolen money (under the National Health Insurance Fund) and that is why they are doing all these,” the Sirisia MP claimed.

“Kenya is for all of us, some are lucky they were appointed CS. You are lucky you were appointed recently and you didn’t even work to have this government in place. You do your job and stop fighting Barasa.”

Waluke added, “The monies were stolen in NHIF and that’s why the cartels are complaining that SHA is not working, I want to say it is working because even in the villages we can see.”

The end game, they said, is to discredit CS Barasa and have her kicked out from the helm of the ministry, to allow the cartels get back to their old ways.

The CS has been at the center of public anger over the alleged malfunctioning of the Social Health Authority the successor of NHIF.

Barasa’s slot is regarded as Ford Kenya’s slot, according to a pre-election deal signed by Kenya Kwanza affiliate parties.

“We cannot allow you to frustrate a minister like that to the extent that she cannot work. This Kenya Kwanza government, we formed it and we fought for it. We are saying that if this decision is as a result of broadbased government, we are not going to allow this happen,” Kalasinga said.

“I have seen people fighting this lady. In Luhya, we don’t fight women. We are warning leaders to desist from fighting this lady and allow her to do her job.”