CORD MP supports Health nominee, faults Uhuru on regional balance

By Geoffrey Mosoku

Homabay, Kenya: Homabay Women Representative Gladys Wanga has supported President Uhuru Kenyatta’s cabinet nominee for Health James Macharia.

Wanga, who hold a master’s of science in health management, sought to differ with the country’s doctors body Kenya Medical Association (KMA) which faulted president Uhuru for picking a non-medic for the health docket.

The MP says that it is a practice world over not to settle necessary on a person with health training background but a manager who can transform the sector while citing the US whose Health secretary is a political scientist by profession.

“For me Macharia is one of the most qualified persons to turn around the ministry of health given his track record at the NIC bank which has grown fivefold during his helm,” Ms Wanga who is eying the chair of parliamentary departmental committee on Health said.

Macharia is a career banker and has an MBA from Henley Management College in the United Kingdom and a Bachelors of Commerce from the University of Nairobi as well CPA (K).

He has worked in several banks including Standard Chartered, African Banking Corporation and served as NIC Bank Group Managing Director.

While supporting the nominee, MP Wanga said what the health sector required was a radical mind that can turn around the sector given the huge promises made by the jubilee government among them the free maternity care for all pregnant mothers.

“We need a person who can spearhead raising of resources to employ more doctors and nurses and remunerate them well. It’s a blessing that indeed that the country is getting a qualified manager, “she said in Nairobi on Saturday.

The CORD MP however said her remarks do not mean she supports the entire cabinet selection criticizing president Uhuru and his deputy William Ruto for failing on regional balance and integrity test.

“The President has passed the gender test but unfortunately failed on the integrity and regional balance,” she said.

Ms Wanga told the executive to prepare for a dueling battle in the house with legislators saying some of the names in the cabinet will be shot down by the MPs, when vetting commences.

“We will be vetting these nominees individually when their names are brought to the floor of the house,” she added.

Although President Uhuru’s cabinet list of 16 was largely praised last week, the inclusion of former ministers Charity Ngilu and Najib Balala caused uproar as it came amidst an earlier promise that no politician will be included in cabinet.

MPs have threatened to shoot down the two names even as leaders from the Maa community cried foul after the jubilee government failed to nominate person from their community in spite of the huge support the coalition received from the area in the last elections.