Lobbying for key CEO posts stepped up in Kenya

High-level backroom lobbying has intensified for top vacancies in three key health sector parastatals, sources have said.

Chief executive officer positions at the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF), Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital (MTRH) and the Kenya Medical Supplies Agency (Kemsa) will be falling vacant in December when the terms of the current office holders expire.

Moi Teaching a nd Referral Hospital is one of the parastatals whose CEO office will be falling vacant in December when the terms of the current office holder expires. (PHOTO: COURTESY)

Simeon ole Kirgotty, John Munyu and John Kibosia are the current CEOs of NHIF, Kemsa and MTRH respectively.

Reliable sources have intimated to The Standard that strong political lobbying and horse-trading to influence the appointment of the next CEOs has reached its peak ahead of the December 15 expiry date.

Sources indicated that there are plans by MPs to extend some of the current CEOs stay in power by removing the two-term limit. Each term is three years.

There are also alleged moves to alter the minimum academic qualifications and experience required for the positions in order to accommodate candidates favoured by powerful personalities in Government.

Some of the parastatals have traditionally been seen as easy cash cows by politicians to finance their election campaigns and other projects.

Although the health docket was devolved to the counties, the agencies remain under the national government.

Gender balance

The parastatals are seen as strategic since they control billions of shillings of public and donor funds. For instance, NHIF now receives at least Sh2.3 billion every month from contributions of Kenyans after the rates were enhanced early this year. Previously, it used to collect around Sh800 million monthly.

Kemsa has a multi-billion-shilling budget supplying and distributing drugs to counties. It also receives billions of shillings from donors under various projects to distribute medicines and medical devices across the country.

Only last week, Kemsa signed a Sh65 billion deal with the United States Agency for International Development.

The Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital is the second largest referral hospital in the country after the Kenyatta National Hospital.

But when contacted, Health Cabinet Secretary James Macharia said despite the political pressure from a section of MPs, he is keen to have the crucial vacancies filled competitively.

“We will not allow political interference in the process. We are the ones who signed performance contracts and we are the ones who will be held accountable. At the end of the day we shall be picking persons of merit to head those parastatals,” he said.

He added: “We shall ensure that the appointments meet the constitutional requirements for gender and regional balance.”

Mr Macharia said the exercise would follow the recent guidelines on appointments of parastatal heads referred to as Mwongozo.