Gachagua claims Ruto ‘restored’ ex-CS Kamau’s dignity by appointing him NHIF board chair
Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has thanked President William Ruto for restoring the dignity of ex-Transport Cabinet Secretary Michael Kamau.
Gachagua's statement came against the backdrop of the appointment of the former minister as the chairperson of the National Health and Insurance Fund (NHIF) board.
According to the second-in-command, Kamau was a distinguished public servant who served the country diligently but was later persecuted by the very government he served.
"Thank you, President William Ruto, 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," he tweeted.
The DP further stated that Kamau has gone through a lot since his suspension by retired President Uhuru Kenyatta from the Ministry of Transport in April 2015.
He exuded confidence that the appointment of the former Uhuru minister as the NHIF chair brings on board experience and efficiency to an institution that is critical in the implementation of the Kenya Kwanza plan of realizing Universal Health Coverage for all Kenyans.
Ruto appoints ex-CS Michael Kamau NHIF board chair
President William Ruto appointed former Transport Minister, Eng. Michael Kamau as the Chairperson of the Nation Health and Insurance Fund (NHIF) board for a three-year term.
In a gazette notice dated December 23, Ruto also revoked Lewis Nguyai’s tenure who was appointed by President Uhuru Kenyatta.
"In exercise of the powers conferred by section 4 (1) (a) of the National Health Insurance Fund Act, I, William Samoei Ruto, President and Commander-in-Chief of the Defense Forces of the Republic of Kenya, appoint— Michael Kamau (ENG.) to be the Chairperson of the National Health Insurance Fund, for a period of three years, with effect from the 23rd December 2022," the gazette notice read in part.
Kamau sacked
Kamau was dropped from Cabinet in April 2015 by then-President Uhuru over abuse of office and corruption allegations.
Kamau was charged with failing to comply with the set rules by ignoring the design of Kamukuywa-Kaptama-Kapsokwony-Sirisia Road done by Engiconsult Limited at a cost of Sh33,303,600.
He was also charged with entering into a memorandum under which the resident engineer redesigned the same road without due process.
He was set free on August 18, 2018, on a cash bail of Ksh500,000 by Chief Magistrate Douglas Ogoti.
