Former Health Cabinet Secretary Susan Nakhumicha and former Health Principal Secretary Peter Tum found themselves on the defensive Monday, as they appeared before the National Assembly Committee on Defense and Foreign Relations for vetting over new government appointments.
Nakhumicha has been nominated for the ambassadorial post to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), while Tum is being considered for the position of Permanent Representative to the UN-Habitat in Nairobi.
However, lawmakers used the session to revisit a string of unresolved scandals that marred their tenure at the Ministry of Health, raising questions about their integrity, accountability, and suitability for the new roles.Central to the grilling was the Sh3.7 billion mosquito nets scandal, which rocked Afya House during their leadership.
MPs demanded clarity on how such a colossal amount was mismanaged, leading to serious doubts over the nominees’ oversight capabilities. Tum and Nakhumicha, however, denied any wrongdoing, maintaining that their redeployments were not linked to poor performance, but were instead part of a broader government reshuffle meant to align talent with evolving national priorities.
Lawmakers also scrutinized other key issues, including the persistent doctors’ strikes that threatened to cripple the public health sector, and the National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF) scandal. The committee expressed disappointment over the lack of prosecutions in the NHIF case, demanding answers on why no officials had been held accountable.
Former CS Nakhumicha was further cornered on allegations that former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua may have influenced health-related procurement deals. She neither confirmed nor denied the claims, only stating that due process was followed in all procurement activities under her watch.
PS nominee Peter Tum faced additional criticism over his understanding of the DRC’s historical conflicts, a gap that lawmakers warned could hinder Kenya’s diplomatic agenda in the region.The vetting process also touched on other key nominees. Consul-General nominee to the Republic of China, James Muhati, was pressed on his controversial exit from the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), and questioned about any links to the death of IEBC ICT manager Chris Msando—allegations he strongly denied.
Other nominees vetted included Caroline Wanjiru Karugu for Principal Secretary in the State Department for East African Community Affairs, and Abdi Dubat Fidhow as Consul-General to the United Republic of Tanzania.The committee, chaired by Belgut MP Nelson Koech, afirms that public scrutiny and transparency remain at the heart of diplomatic and senior government appointments.
