Former Health Cabinet Secretary Susan Nakhumicha faced tough questions during her vetting for the position of Permanent Representative to the UN-Habitat, as MPs grilled her over scandals that marred her tenure in the Ministry of Health.
Appearing before the National Assembly’s Defense, Intelligence and Foreign Affairs Committee, Nakhumicha had to defend herself over the 2023 Ksh.3.7 billion mosquito nets procurement debacle. The Global Fund canceled the tender after the two shortlisted companies failed to meet documentation requirements. The procurement process, intended to support Kenya’s anti-malaria campaign, was marred by irregularities, forcing the fund to bypass Kenya’s system and supply the nets directly via Wambo.org.
“This was a lost opportunity not just for health, but for potential revenue generation,” Nakhumicha lamented, attributing the scandal to individuals who manipulated tender descriptions for personal gain. She pointed to systemic flaws in public procurement as the root of the problem.
The former CS was also questioned about the troubled rollout of the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF), which aimed to transform Kenya’s healthcare system under the new Social Health Authority (SHA). Nakhumicha admitted the programme faced major hurdles, including inefficiency, unprofessional conduct by some contracted facilities, and fierce opposition from health workers and associations.
Clinical officers protested exclusion from SHA and breaches of prior agreements concerning their employment terms. In addition, the Rural and Urban Private Hospitals Association of Kenya (RUPHA) partially suspended services in February 2025, citing unresolved grievances.
Further complicating her record is a damning audit by Auditor General Nancy Gathungu, which revealed the government lacks ownership and control of the Ksh.104.8 billion SHA system. The audit flagged potential legal and operational risks, with concerns over intellectual property and infrastructure control.
Nakhumicha, whose net worth now stands at Ksh.140 million, maintained that SHA is the “magic bullet” for healthcare reform, despite public backlash and glitches during implementation.
Her nomination comes in the wake of President William Ruto’s decision to dissolve the Cabinet on July 11, 2024, amid sustained anti-government protests led by Gen Z activists. Whether she secures the envoy role remains uncertain amid the baggage of her past performance.
