'We are not fighting,' Health CS says on alleged transfer standoff with PS

Recently, Citizen TV reported that there is division in the ministry where CS Barasa and Principal Secretary for Medical Services, Harry Kimtai  gave conflicting directions on the appointment of Andrew Mulwa to the National AIDS & STI Control Programme (NASCOP). 

The report indicated that Barasa revoked the deployment of Mulwa, former Chief Executive Officer of the Kenya Medical Supplies Authority (KEMSA), which had been made by Kimtai. 

PS Kimtai had on December 20, 2024, issued an internal memo to the Acting Deputy Director General formally authorising the deployment of Andrew Mulwa to NASCOP with immediate effect.

Come January 8, 2025, Barasa revoked the appointment. “As a result, the recent deployments are to be rescinded immediately and the affected officers are to be restored to their original positions,” the CS stated in a letter addressed to Kimtai. 

On Wednesday, the Health CS said the changes were part of the ministry’s work and that “there is fruitful  discussion among the leadership.”

“We are working as a team to have successful implementation of Taifa Care and seamless running of the ministry. We will have routine engagements,” Barasa added. 

In September 2024, a seemingly brewing collision between Public Health Principal Secretary Mary Muthoni and Director General Patrick Amoth was also noticed. Then, the two ministry officials would issue individual media updates on the MPox virus. One time, the officials gave non-marching statistics on the virus victims. 

In an effort to streamline communication, CS Barasa on Wednesday announced that any communications on Taifa Care will be made by Amoth.

“We have witnessed instances of information asymmetry. I have directed that only the DG (Amoth) can communicate any information related to Taifa care,” said the CS.