Babu Owino Moves To Have CS Susan Nakhumicha Impeached
Owino is accusing Nakhumicha of Gross violation of Articles 26(1) and 43(1)(a) of the Constitution; and incompetence.
Marvin Chege 
Embakasi East Member of Parliament (MP) Babu Owino is set to file a notice of motion seeking to have Health Cabinet Secretary (CS) Susan Nakhumicha impeached from office.
In the notice seen by Viral Tea dated April 4, which we understand will be taken to the floor of the National Assembly on Thursday, the lawmaker revealed that he intends to move a Special Motion for the removal of the Cabinet Secretary for Health from office on two grounds,
Owino is accusing Nakhumicha of Gross violation of Articles 26(1) and 43(1)(a) of the Constitution; and incompetence in the motion he claimed has already received the support of 111 MPs.
Babu Owino addressing the media on April 3, 2024. /CITIZEN DIGITAL
"The above grounds are based on the following particulars: As a result of the doctors' strike, a majority of Kenyans' right to life as well as the right to the highest attainable standard of health has been grossly violated. Since the strike began on 15th March 2024, scores of Kenyans have been unable to access medical care, and in some dire cases, some have even lost their lives," the notice reads in part.
"The CS has exhibited incompetence in that she failed to avert the doctors' strike which has now entered its third week. The CS has failed to honour the doctors' Collective Bargaining Agreement and has instead taken a hard line and is instead threatening the striking doctors with immediate sacking and replacement."
Owino further accused CS Nakhumicha of failing to appreciate the seriousness of the strike and failing to provide a lasting solution to settle the demands of the medics including hiring of interns/ trainee doctors and payment of salary arrears.
He declared that he would be moving the motion and sought the resolution of the House to require President William Ruto to dismiss Nakhumicha from office at the helm of the Ministry of Health.
By the time of publishing this article, CS Nakhumicha has yet to respond to Babu Owino's allegations.
The Embakasi East Legislator, speaking at a joint press conference with the Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Union (KMPDU), stated that if the government does not listen to the striking doctors, MPs will join the industrial action.
"We don't want government to demand, invite don't demand. When you push, we, KMPDU and MPs will push, when you pull, we'll resist....when you demand we will refuse," the MP said.
KMPDU, which has over 7,000 members, went on strike on March 15, 2024, to demand salary arrears and the immediate hiring of trainee doctors.
In efforts to quell the damaging effects of the strike entering its third week on Wednesday, the government released Ksh2.4 billion last night to facilitate the immediate deployment and posting of the 2023/24 cohort of medical student interns, something the KMPDU dismissed.
In an interview with Citizen TV on Tuesday evening, KMPDU Secretary General Davji Atellah rebuffed the government's efforts, stating, "The strike is on. I think it is on more than before," noting the union's determination to press on with their demands.
