UPDATE 5:30 p.m.: President Uhuru Kenyatta retracted changes barely 30 minutes after he made reshuffles in the Ministry of Health and Industrialization with further communication set to be issued.
"We would like to retract an earlier communication on the management changes at the Ministry of Health and that of Industrialization, Trade and Enterprise Development.
"Fresh communication on the subject matter will be issued in due course.," a statement from State House reads
President Uhuru Kenyatta on Wednesday, August 26, enforced changes in the Ministry of Health following the Kenya Medical Supplies Agency (KEMSA) Scandal.
A statement to newsrooms from State House Spokesperson Kanze Dena confirmed the changes in the Ministry with some of them being reshuffles.
"His Excellency the President, with a view of strengthening the management of the Ministry of Health, has made the following changes
"1. Dr Francis Owino to be Principal Secretary for Public Health;
"2. Ms. Susan Mochache to be Principal Secretary for Medical Services;
"3. Mr. Peter Kinuthia Thuku to be Principal Administrative Secretary, Ministry of Health," the statement reads in part.
Dr Francis Owino is set to replace Peter Tum as the Principal Secretary for Public Health in the Ministry after he previously held the position of Principal Secretary in State Department of Industrialization.
Health Principal Secretary Susan Mochache is set to become the new Principal Secretary for Medical Services after being moved from her position as the Principal Secretary in the Ministry.
Peter Kinuthia Thuku becomes the Principal Administrative Secretary, Ministry of Health. He was previously the Marsabit County Commander.
The president noted that the changes are in a bid to strengthen the Ministry of Health that has been rocked by corruption scandals.
The Ministry Ministry of Industrialization Trade and Enterprise Development is also set for changes as Ambassador Johnson Weru will be the new Principal Secretary.
According to the statement, the changes are set to take place with immediate effect.
Uhuru touched on the KEMSA scandal during his Eleventh Presidential address on the Covid-19 pandemic and ordered a probe into the graft.
"Fellow Kenyans, in line with my stated public policy on zero tolerance to corruption, I want to reiterate that any persons found culpable should be brought to book notwithstanding their public office or political and social status.
"The CS for Health acting jointly with the Chairperson of the Council of Governors (Kakamega Governor Wycliffe Oparanya) shall constitute a National Reference Group on Covid-19 to review the efficacy of this pandemic so far," he stated.
