The Ministry of Health through the Public Service Commission has advertised the post of Director General for Health in which incumbent, acting DG Dr. Patrick Amoth has been serving in an acting capacity.
The advertisement has been preceded by intense infighting within the hierarchy of MoH headed by Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe amid stiff opposition by well entrenched cartels controlling multi-million tenders having successfully opposed the appointment of Amoth as the substantive in-charge.
Amoth has been serving in an acting capacity for close to three years now including during the devastating outbreak of Covid-19 pandemic that ravaged the globe.
Exactly a year ago, Amoth was appointed Chairperson of the World Health Organisation (WHO) Executive Board.
Amoth’s appointment was announced during the 149th meeting of the WHO Executive board in Geneva.
Accepting his new position, the DG said the appointment is a boost to Kenya.
Amoth succeeded Dr Harsh Vardhan from India.
In February this year, Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of the National Assembly A parliamentary committee summoned Kagwe to explain why he has not appointed a substantive Director-General in the ministry.
MPs took Kagwe to task to explain why Dr Amoth has been holding the position in acting position for two years.
Separately, while appearing virtually before a Senate committee,Kagwe blamed the Public Service Commission for the delayed appointment of Amoth as the substantive director general.
He told senators that PSC has delayed to approve the ministry’s proposed organisational structure and staff establishment to allow it fill the position.
“The ministry has established the position of the director general in the new structure,” Kagwe told the Senate Health Committee in March this year.
However, impeccable sources intimated that powerful and well connected web of cartel with deep-rooted commercial interests at the lucrative ministry are behind the push to have Amoth blocked from being confirmed as the substantive holder of the crucial docket.
