Fresh storm at NHIF over CEO post – Weekly Citizen

A fresh storm has hit the troubled National Hospital Insurance Fund after the board readvertised the position of chief executive officer, despite having shortlisted three candidates following a series of interviews.

Activist Okiya Omutata has threatened to move to court to challenge the board’s decision to readvertise the position, arguing the move was a violation of the constitution.

In a letter dated March 5 2020 addressed to Hannah Muriithi, chairperson, NHIF board of management, Omtata through the Kenyans for Justice and Development Trust, reminds the chairperson that together with Health principal secretary Susan Mochache told the parliamentary health committee that they had forwarded names of three successful candidates to then cabinet secretary Sicily Kariuki for appointment of a substantive NHIF boss.

Murithi

Kariuki has since been replaced in the Health docket by former Nyeri senator Mutahi Kagwe.

“You (board) were awaiting the appointment of the new substantive CS who was going to appoint the CEO from the three names.

“We demand you give us reasons why you have re-advertised the position yet the board was functus officio, having forwarded the three names to the CS,” argues the activist.

He wonders whether the board has powers to recall names forwarded to the CS and readvertise the vacancy.

Omtata

Omtata further demands a report of the interview proceedings, including the scores of each candidate interviewed by individual members of the interviewing panel together with the criteria used in selecting the three names forwarded to the president. The NHIF acting CEO is Nicodemus Odongo.

The repeated job advertisement comes as the Health ministry undergoes a change of leadership with the recent cabinet reshuffle by Uhuru Kenyatta.

“We are awaiting the appointment of the substantive CS and he is the one who is going to appoint the CEO,” Mochache told the national assembly’s committee on health.

Kagwe has already taken the Health docket as Kariuki moved to the Water and Sanitation portfolio.

Kagwe his plans are to make NHIF mandatory for all in order to rescue it from its deathbed.

He has also been championing to increase the NHIF deductions as well as have more Kenyans on board.

Kagwe wants all Kenyans compelled to contribute to the NHIF in support of the universal healthcare roll-out with deductions made in proportion to income level.

The NHIF first advertised for the position of the CEO after sending Geoffrey Mwangi on compulsory leave.

Mwangi’s position as the CEO was handed over to Odongo in an acting capacity. Odongo previously held the position of director strategy, planning and marketing.

Mwangi was suspended alongside finance director Wilbert Kurgat for allegedly declining to surrender some payment vouchers to investigators.