Health Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe came under fire from a section of Kenyans on Sunday, September 6, following a TV interview.
Amid investigations into an alleged multi-billion scandal at the Kenya Medical Supplies Agency (KEMSA), it was Kagwe's remarks on corruption that rubbed many the wrong way.
The CS repeatedly stated that it was not his job to fight corruption, urging Kenyans to make the distinction in terms of his roles.
Kagwe argued that his job was to ensure efficient health service delivery.
The fight against corruption, he stated, was a means to an end of ensuring the healthcare system works for Kenyans.
"It is one thing to eliminate corruption, and quite another to ensure the system is moving efficiently.
"It is not enough to fight corruption. My job is not to fight corruption, my job is to provide healthcare," he asserted.
His comments were met by a flood of furious responses from Kenyans who questioned his explanation.
Some claimed that his comments pointed to an avoidance of responsibility.
Others cited the devastating effects of corruption on Kenyans' lives in their criticism of Kagwe.
"Finally, someone who has admitted that this administration is not fighting corruption. That's why he attends funerals and other functions where there is no physical distancing and all his health rules are ignored," wrote one Jesse Kenya.
"How will healthcare be provided when all the funds have been looted and supplies mismanaged? How?" posed Tracy Mwangi.
He maintained that he was determined to clean up the rot at Afya House, stating that he called in investigative agencies to look into graft at the ministry.
Kagwe acknowledged that he was aware of the dire situation when he was appointed Health CS in March.
He noted, however, that his stint at the ministry had been a steep learning curve.
He recalled how, only 10 days after his appointment, the first Covid-19 case was confirmed in Kenya.
Kagwe voiced confidence that his defence before Parliamentary committees had confirmed that he was not in any way involved with the alleged misuse of funds allocated for the pandemic.
Watch part of the interview below:
