Deputy President William Ruto has waded into the ongoing row between Health Cabinet Secretary Sicily Kariuki and a section of lawmakers who want her impeached for sending Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) Chief Executive Lilian Koros on compulsory leave.
A report in the Nation claims that Ruto is worried that the impeachment bid could split the Jubilee Party and, therefore, asked the Members of Parliament to go easy on CS Kariuki as he finds another solution that will not jeopardize the party's unity.
Koros was suspended after a mix-up at the hospital saw the wrong patient undergo a brain surgery.
Aldai MP Cornelly Serem, who is fronting the impeachment motion, has maintained that Kariuki had no right to send Koros home over the surgery mix-up.
"There is no way you can target a CEO for a mistake that happened in the theatre.
[caption caption="KNH CEO Lily Koros"]
[/caption]
“What happened in the theatre falls in the realm of professional misconduct. It should have been investigated by the doctors’ professional body,” he stated.
At least 150 MPs are said to have already thrown their weight behind the impeachment motion by appending their signatures.
The hospital has been rocked by several scandals over the past few months, with cases of rape, child theft and negligence all reported.
Kipkelion West MP Hillary Kosgei alleged that the removal of Koros had everything to do with the prioritization of healthcare as part of President Uhuru Kenyatta's 'Big 4 Agenda'.
KNH, the biggest referral hospital in East Africa, is expected to get a budgetary allocation of Sh15 Billion, making it a target for cartels targeting tenders.
[caption caption="DP Ruto and Health CS Sicily Kariuki"]
[/caption]
