Kagwe to face MPs over Amoth acting status
A parliamentary committee has summoned Health Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe to explain why he has not appointed a substantive Director-General in the ministry.
MPs also want Kagwe to explain why Dr Patrick Amoth has been holding the position in acting position for two years.
When he appeared before the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) yesterday, Amoth confirmed that he has been in acting capacity for two years and one month.
Committee chair Opiyo Wandayi said it was worrying that Kagwe had not shown any indication that he was going to appoint Amoth.
Amoth is the incumbent Vice-President of the Executive Board of the World Health Organisation for the African region.
Asked by Garissa Township MP Aden Duale why he has not been confirmed to the position or whether the CS wants to reserve the job for another person, Amoth said the ministry’s Human Resources Guidelines were changed to provide for a competitive recruitment process.
“They changed the human resources guidelines to ensure the position is filled competitively. What this means is that the CS has to place an advertisement inviting applications for the position,” said Amoth.
Amoth had appeared before the committee to respond to queries raised in a special audit by Auditor General Nancy Gathungu on the expenditure of funds by the national government for the period March 13, 2020 and July 31, 2021.
