CS Risks Impeachment Again After Row With MPs

Members of the National Assembly Health Committee on Tuesday, November 4, accused Health Cabinet Secretary Sicily Kariuki of frustrating their oversight mandate.

According to a report by The Standard, MPs threatened to impeach the CS who they stated ignored several summonses to appear before the committee.

“Failing to appear before committee meetings can be a basis for impeachment. I will follow that route if this trend continues,” Ugenya MP David Ochieng, who chaired the sitting warned.

On Tuesday, November 5, MPs threatened to impeach Helth CS Sicily Kariuki.

the legislators claimed the Ministry of Health sabotaged their efforts to probe the controversial Managed Equipment Services (MES) and a Ksh15 billion private hospital plan. 

“This ministry seems to be taking this committee for granted. The ministry has a messy M.E.S issue. We also heard they want to start a private hospital at Kenyatta National Hospital without involving the input of this committee,” Keiyo North MP James Murgor added.

The MES was established in February 2015 by the Ministry of Health to supply county governments and two hospitals in every county with high-tech machines.

The medical equipment was specifically aimed at managing chronic diseases such as cancer and diabetes.

The MPs were also displeased with the health CS whom they accused of not informing them about the rollout of the mass Human Papilloma Viruses (HPV) vaccines.

The HPV vaccine is said to assist in shielding young girls from certain types of cancerous HPV viruses that can also translate to genital warts.

In March 2018, a motion seeking to eject CS Kariuki from office was withdrawn a day after 170 lawmakers signed the motion by Mandera North MP Bashir Abdullahi on grounds of gross misconduct and abuse of office.

The MPs had claimed that the health CS exhibited arrogance and a lack of respect for elected leaders when she interacted with them.

In a final warning to the CS, the legislators through Ugenya MP told the CS to appear in person when she is next summoned.

Ugenya MP David Ochieng. Ochieng chaired the Tuesday, November 5 National Assembly Health Committee that threatened to impeach CS Sicily Kariuki.
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