Moi hospital boss must be an outsider, urge MPs
Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital Board of Management Chairman Adan Hassan (seated, second left) on Friday at a press conference in Nairobi to shed light on the leadership crisis at the hospital. The MTRH Director, Dr John Kibosia is seated to his left. PHOTO | WILLIAM OERI | NATION MEDIA GROUP
What you need to know:
- Mr Alfred Keter (Nandi Hills) and Nandi Woman Representative Zipporah Kering say a non-Kalenjin would unite the employees and locals, apart from improving service-delivery at the MTRH.
- Ms Kering took issue with Health Cabinet Secretary James Macharia for the controversy surrounding the appointment of a new CEO at the hospital last week.
- County ODM Chairman Kipkorir Menjo said it was only the Ministry of Health that could run the hospital professionally.
Two MPs have urged President Uhuru Kenyatta to appoint a chief executive officer for the Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital from outside the Rift Valley region.
Mr Alfred Keter (Nandi Hills) and Nandi Woman Representative Zipporah Kering say a non-Kalenjin would unite the employees and locals, apart from improving service-delivery at the MTRH.
They were speaking at Lessos, Nandi County on Saturday.
Ms Kering took issue with Health Cabinet Secretary James Macharia for the controversy surrounding the appointment of a new CEO at the hospital last week.
She said the appointment almost led to the grounding of activities at the facility.
“MTRH is a national institution just like Kenyatta National Hospital in Nairobi and Mr Macharia will be held responsible if it suffers because of leadership wrangles. He should not take sides at the expense of millions of Kenyans who want quality service,” Ms Kering said.
And, yesterday, The government was asked to stop “politically instigated appointments” at the hospital.
County ODM Chairman Kipkorir Menjo said it was only the Ministry of Health that could run the hospital professionally.
“Political interference is to blame for the stalling of MTRH expansion. The ministry should be left to run hospitals without interference from the political elite, ”Mr Menjo told the Nation.
ENTER SITIENEI
An attempt to remove MTRH Director John Kibosia flopped after a crisis meeting at Afya House attended by Mr Macharia and Health Principal Secretary Khadija Kassachoon.
The problem began when Dr Joseph Sitienei reported to the hospital with an appointment letter as the new CEO.
However, Dr Kibosia, who was out on official duty at the time, returned and maintained that he was still in charge.
The impasse which was threatening to disrupt service-delivery was resolved when the Ministry of Health asked Dr Kibosia to stick to his job until his contract expires in December.
There were reports that MPs from Elgeyo-Marakwet County rushed to Deputy President William Ruto’s office to protest Dr Kibosia’s removal.
However, Director of Communications at the DP’s office Emmanuel Tallam denied the claim.
“They didn’t see the Deputy President. In any case, the Health Ministry is the appointing authority and the CS has the final say on recruitment,” Mr Tallam said.
Dr Kibosia had been redeployed to the ministry headquarters to co-ordinate donor funding, and his position taken by Dr Sitienei, the Director of Kenya National AIDS and STI Control programme.
The attempted changes saw MPs from Marakwet, where Dr Kibosia comes from, protest that their man was being removed to be replaced by Dr Sitienei and reduce their numbers in government, rekindling old rivalry between two Kalenjin sub-tribes. Dr Sitienei hails from Nandi County.
The Marakwets say Dr Kibosia is among the few people from their county holding key government positions.
