Gachagua Thanks Ruto for 'Restoring the Dignity' of Former CS Michael Kamau

Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has thanked President Ruto for appointing former Transport Cabinet Secretary Eng. Michael Kamau as the Chairperson of the National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF) board.

Gachagua said the appointment restores the dignity of Kamau, whom he described as a distinguished public servant who was unfairly persecuted by the previous administration.

“Thank you, my Boss, H.E. President @WilliamsRuto, for restoring the dignity of Eng. Michael Kamau. A distinguished Public Servant who put in years of committed service to our great Nation of Kenya, he was persecuted and taken through hell by the very Government he had served. For 8 years, the son of Kenya has not known peace,” Gachagua said in a statement posted on Twitter on Saturday.

“The appointment of Eng. Kamau to chair the board of @nhifkenya brings experience and efficiency to an institution critical in implementing the Kenya Kwanza Plan of realizing Universal Health Coverage for all Kenyans,” he added.

Kamau was suspended from former President Kenyatta’s Cabinet in March 2015 and was later with two counts of abuse of office and failure to comply with applicable procedures and guidelines relating to management of public funds.

The charges were in relation to the Kamukunywa Kaaptama-Kapsokwony Sirisia road in Bungoma that led to the loss of public funds.

On Friday, Ruto appointed Kamau as the Chair of the NHIF board to replace Lewis Nguyai, who served in the position since February 2021 after his appointment by former President Uhuru Kenyatta. He will serve for a three-year term.