Kenyan President Uhuru appoints new heads of health parastatals

KENYA – Kenya’s President Uhuru Kenyatta has appointed new chairpersons to three independent parastatals in a radical reshuffle to better the health sector in the country.

The parastatals in the reshuffle include the Kenyatta University Teaching, Referral and Research Hospital (KUTRRH), National AIDS Control Council and the Pharmacy and Poisons Board.

The Head of State has re-appointed Olive Mugenda for the second time as the Board Chairperson of the Kenyatta University Teaching, Referral and Research Hospital for a period of three years.

Mugenda is a highly respected former vice-chancellor at the Kenyatta University, a position she retired from in 2016 after serving for 10 years between March 20^th 2006 to March 20^th 2016.

Olive Mugenda is also credited with the establishment and operationalization of Kenyatta University Referral Hospital which is a 500-bed referral facility situated within Kenyatta University.

She is an accomplished author and business leader responsible for the expansion as well as the transformation of Kenyatta University which saw the institution grow in stature and financial strength.

Housing Finance Company Limited also appointed Olive Mugenda as an independent non – executive director and chairperson of the board with effect from October 21^st 2021.

Moreover, she currently serves as a Commissioner at the Judicial Service Commission where she was elected chairperson during the recruitment of the current Chief Justice, Martha Koome.

Mugenda is a seasoned leader, academic researcher and administrator with specialization in women/girl’s education, research methods and statistics, leadership and governance.

The outstanding transformational leadership track record demonstrated by the newly appointed chairperson is expected to bring more innovative ideas which will lead KUTRRH to greater heights.

At the same time, Uhuru Kenyatta has appointed James Mandere Rodgers Atebe as the new Chairperson of the Pharmacy and Poisons Board to serve for a period of three years.

James Mandere will fill the void left by the outgoing Chairperson Dr Jackson Kioko whose term ended in 2020 and ever since the regulator’s board has been without substantive leadership.

According to the gazettement by the head of state, Dr Atebe will serve Kenya to the best of his ability to better the pharmaceutical sector delivery towards attainment of the Universal Health Coverage and manufacturing agenda.

President Uhuru Kenyatta has also announced the appointment of Dr Zakayo ole Mapelu as Board Chairperson of the National AIDS Control Council for a period of three years, effective March 25^th 2022.

Earlier, Dr Ole served as the CEO of East Africa Portland Cement and was also one of the interviewees for the position of Managing Director at the Kenya Ports Authority in 2016.

He has replaced the previous Board Chairperson Ms Angeline Siparo who was appointed to the agency in July 2016.

Dr. Ole Mapelu Zakayo will further support the Council’s mandate to provide leadership in strategy formulation, resource mobilization and coordination of stakeholders in implementing the HIV response.

Additionally, the National AIDS Control Council Board is responsible for providing policy and strategic directions and oversight of financial prudence and accountability.

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