Ex-CAS Mercy Mwangangi Appointed SHA CEO
Her appointment follows the conclusion of a competitive recruitment process which saw a total of 92 Applicants, out of which 12 Candidates were shortlisted and interviewed.
Marvin Chege 
Former Health Chief Administrative Secretary (CAS) Dr Mercy Mwangangi has been appointed as the new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Social Health Authority (SHA).
Health Cabinet Secretary (CS) Aden Duale announced this on Friday, April 11, in a statement. "The Ministry of Health wishes to announce the appointment of Dr. Mercy Mwangangi as the new Chief Executive Officer of the Social Health Authority," the statement read in part.
Her appointment follows the conclusion of a competitive recruitment process, which saw a total of 92 applicants, out of which 12 candidates were shortlisted and interviewed.
Mwangangi, a health financing and policy expert, is expected to bring over 15 years of experience in universal health coverage (UHC), institutional reform, and health systems strengthening to the new role.
A photo of the Social Health Authority (SHA) headquarters in Nairobi. /NTV
"A proven leader in health governance, resource mobilization, and strategic partnerships, with an exceptional track record of driving policy transformation and financing reforms in Kenya's healthcare landscape, is poised to lead SHA into the next Chapter," added the statement.
Before today's announcement, Mwangangi was the Senior Health Systems Strengthening Director at AMREF Health Africa, where she spearheaded health financing and health security investments across Africa, securing development assistance funding for primary healthcare and universal coverage expansion.
Duale congratulated Mwangangi on her appointment and wished her all the best. "We are confident that she has what it takes to steer SHA and deliver on the mandate of SHA," added the CS.
Mwangangi was one of 15 candidates who made the shortlist for the position. Other contenders included Kennedy Odhiambo Akello, Robert Mbarani Ingasira, Robert Eloto Abok, Dr. Serem Kimutai Edward, and Wario Boru Tore. Also in the running were Dr. Agrippina Njoki Fernandes, Abdullahi Sheikh Abdirahman, Dr. Musa Nyandusi Lwegado, Dr. Samson Kuhora Kairang’a, Dinah Jemelly Kirwa, and Kandie Ng’ochoch.
The CEO position at SHA became vacant after Elijah Wachira was suspended. He held the role up until November 2024. "This is to inform you of the Resolution of the Board to appoint Mr. Robert Ingasira as Acting Chief Executive Officer, SHA and NHIF, effective immediately, as Mr. Elijah Wachira proceeds on Compulsory Leave," the memo read.
This appointment marks Mwangangi's return to a government position of huge interest for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic period five years ago. The sultry-voiced CAS burst into fame in 2020 during the war against the deadly virus and wowed every Kenyan, especially men, and journalists, mesmerised by her eloquent response to questions.
She joined the University of Nairobi for a degree in Medicine and graduated in 2009. The 36-year-old is an alumnus of Pangani Girls High School, and in 2015, she graduated with a Master of Health Economics and Policy from the University of Adelaide, Australia.
Mwangangi revealed that she opted to pursue medicine as the opposite of a career that was pursued by her mother, which was law.
