Nakhumicha needs humility to serve all Kenyans effectively

 Health Cabinet Secretary Susan Nakhumicha. [Denis Kibuchi, Standard]

Last week, Health Cabinet Secretary Susan Nakhumicha was captured ordering transfer of an OCS from a station in Western.

The agitated CS revealed that in President William Ruto’s government there was ‘one government approach’. She informed the excited listeners that, “there was no need for Internal Security CS Kithure Kindiki to come here to transfer an OCS.”

She emphasized that from where she was standing, addressing the crowd, she was representing the head of state. “I am giving an order, I am giving an order,” she said amid cheers, “that the county commandant wherever he is, be told that by tomorrow evening, Matisi (in Bungoma) OCS must have left this place”.

And as if at a campaign rally, she sought endorsement of her listeners, which they gladly granted. Like most Kenyan roadside declarations, this was at a funeral.

Nobody doubts that Nakumicha is a cabinet secretary in President Ruto’s government and a powerful person. But every Kenyan deserves justice and the right to be heard however lowly he or she might be. And there is a chain of command to be followed.

I humbly submit that she was wrong in ordering the transfer of an officer not under her ministry and in any case even Prof Kindiki should not have the luxury of transferring or sacking police officers arbitrarily.

The police service is independent and such matters should fall under the relevant commission and the Inspector General of Police. CS Nakhumicha should complain to them through CS Kindiki.

Clothed in her power as a cabinet secretary, Nakhumicha must be reminded that humility is royalty without a crown. The CS carries herself with self-confidence which became apparent at a presser following recent exposure of fraud between some hospitals and the NHIF.

While she commendably took immediate action to curb fraud, her body language appeared to disregard the NHIF board chairman and acting CEO who were present.

While she is their boss, current NHIF chairman though new, is a career civil servant of long standing who at one time also served as a cabinet secretary. Eng Michael Kamau is also older than Nakumicha and it would have been nice to see the CS treating him and NHIF staffers with some regard and not just “order the board” around even without looking in the direction of the chairman. After all, for her to succeed in her quest to get rid of cartels, she will need their support.

Don’t just warn and threaten Waziri; work with them. And like your boss the President advised on Tuesday, cooperate with ‘your’ colleagues in the ministry and get all the information you need to effectively serve Kenyans.

To get “rid of the cartels” in NHIF, Kemsa and elsewhere, Nakhumicha will need humility and team work. It is said without compassion and humility self-confidence is just arrogance. And it is good manners not to encroach into other people’s territories; just assure your audience that you will talk to your colleague and ensure whoever was wrong, OCS or otherwise, will be censored.

-The writer comments on topical issues