Police officers lured two individuals suspected of impersonating Health Cabinet Secretary Susan Nakhumicha while offering jobs to Kenyans.
According to a statement by the Ministry of Health on Wednesday, May 17, the duo had been promising unsuspecting Kenyans jobs in the government.
When the ministry learnt of the operation, a plan to smoke them out was orchestrated in collaboration with police officers.
“Today, law enforcement authorities made a significant breakthrough when they successfully carried out a meticulously planned sting operation, resulting in the arrest of two people suspected of impersonation,” the statement read in part.
The police lured the masterminds behind the operation to a set location. When they showed up, they were immediately apprehended.
After their arrest, the two were taken into custody at Afya House. The ministry noted they will be charged for impersonation and conning unsuspecting Kenyans.
“The police planned an operation in which they strategically lured the suspects to a predetermined location, ensuring their arrest.
“They were taken into custody at Afya House on allegations of utilizing the name of Cabinet Secretary for Health Nakhumicha S. Wafula, to deceive unsuspecting Kenyans seeking various opportunities and services from the ministry,” the statement added.
The move came after the CS promised to crack the whip on individuals in the ministry implicated in abusing office and misappropriating funds.
"I will stand tall and lead this Ministry in the right direction. Kenyans know that the president cracked the whip, terminating the contract of one of my PSs and now the reshuffle, but because it is Kenyan culture to read the president's speech, everyone missed out on the step that the Cabinet Secretary had taken," Nakhumicha stated.
On Monday, May 15, President William Ruto dissolved the previous Kenya Medical Supplies Authority (KEMSA) board in a gazette notice over a Ksh4 billion mosquito net supply scandal.
Ruto also fired Health Principal Secretary Josephine Mburu and later reshuffled PSs in his government to push for more accountability.
CS Nakhumicha, after the reshuffling, will work with PSs Harry Kimtai as PS Medical Services and Marry Muthoni Muriuki as PS Public Health and Professional Standards.
The move came after The Global Fund was forced to cancel a Ksh3.7 billion mosquito nets tender owing to KEMSA's irregular procurement process.
