Babu Owino Initiates Impeachment Proceedings Against Health CS Nakhumicha
Embakasi East Member of Parliament Babu Owino has initiated an impeachment motion against Health Cabinet Secretary Susan Nakhumicha in response to the ongoing doctors' strike in Kenya.
The outspoken legislator accuses Nakhumicha of incompetence and disregard for health standards during the strike which has prevented Kenyans from accessing medical care and has resulted in loss of life. In a formal notice, Owino cites Article 152(6) of the Constitution and Standing Order 66 as the legal basis for his intention to remove the Health Cabinet Secretary from office. He criticizes Nakhumicha for her failure to resolve the strike which began on March 15 and has now entered its third week. The MP further accuses the Health CS of neglecting the doctors' Collective Bargaining Agreement and resorting to threats of dismissal instead of engaging in meaningful negotiations.
The doctors' strike has been a contentious issue, with the Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Union (KMPDU) rejecting the government's offer of Sh2.4 billion on April 3. The KMPDU Secretary General Davji Atellah said the offer did not fully address the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) that was agreed upon in 2017. Atellah referred to the government's latest action as an act of impunity and declared that the protests would continue until all of their demands are met as originally agreed upon. In addition to targeting Nakhumicha, Owino has also vowed to take action against Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mithika Linturi for his alleged negligence in addressing the issue of counterfeit fertilizer in the country.
The MP claims that this issue is causing significant losses for farmers. The situation has escalated, with the outspoken legislator invoking constitutional provisions and parliamentary procedures to initiate the impeachment process against Nakhumicha. As the doctors' strike continues to impact the nation's healthcare system and the public's access to medical services, the standoff between the government and healthcare professionals remains unresolved, raising concerns about the potential consequences for the well-being of Kenyans.
In other news, ODM leader Raila Odinga has raised concerns over the involvement of State officers in the upcoming United Democratic Alliance (UDA) elections. During a press conference held in Nairobi on Wednesday, Odinga questioned the decision to appoint public officials to oversee these partisan political activities, arguing that it deviates from their primary duty of serving the Kenyan people. In a formal statement delivered by the party's Secretary-General Edwin Sifuna, Odinga warned against the potential return to an era where a ruling party operates without regard for the nation's best interests. The ODM specifically objected to the prominent role being played by State officers in national politics, which they perceive as a departure from their intended non-partisan responsibilities.