Taita-Taveta assembly gets new health chairman amid Sh250 million procurement scandal

Kaloleni Ward MCA Omar Ahmed is the new chairperson of the House Health Committee.

He replaces his nominated colleague Frank Mmare, who was removed under unclear circumstances.

The leadership, however, gave Rev Mmare a soft landing by appointing him as the vice-chairperson, Committee on Justice and Labour Relations after he was also removed as a member of the Budget and Appropriation Committee.

Bura Ward representative Patel Mng’ambwa was appointed as the new chairperson for Youth and Sports, replacing Mr Ahmed.

The communication was delivered by Speaker Meshack Maganga.

Mmare claimed he was removed because of questioning how Sh250 million allocated to Voi County Referral, Mwatate, Wesu and Taveta hospitals for the purchase of equipment and drugs was spent.

The controversial removal of Mmare, who is also a close ally of Taveta MP Naomi Shaban, has caused divisions among the assembly leadership, with those opposed to it terming the move as unjustified.

Speaker Maganga and Majority Leader Jason Tuja, however, said the nominated MCA was removed over alleged integrity issues and conflict of interest.

Tuja claimed the former committee chairperson had been fighting, intimidating and influencing transfers of some health procurement officials without valid reasons.

Other sources told The Standard that the Executive had warned it was not willing to work with Mmare.