Kenya Medical Supplies Authority (KEMSA) has praised Debra Mlongo after her nomination as the new Cabinet Secretary for Health.

Mlongo is among the first batch of the CSs nominated by President William Ruto who had initially dissolved it following sustained public pressure. The Head of State revealed the new lineup on Friday, July 19, 2024.

Although she will first undergo vetting and potential approval by Parliament, KEMSA believes Mlongo’s experience will be vital as she takes over at Afya House.

“The Board of Directors and Management of the Kenya Medical Supplies Authority (KEMSA) congratulates Deborah Mlongo Barasa for the nomination to the position of Cabinet Secretary for Health.

“As the government supply chain authority for Health Products and Technologies (HPT), KEMSA is vital in procuring, warehousing, and distributing health commodities to public health facilities and programmes in support of the achievement of Universal Health Coverage as espoused in the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda,” KEMSA said in a statement signed by Irungu Nyakera, who is the board chair, on Saturday, July 20, 2024.

Experience

The CS’ nominee was also praised for her leadership skills that have been gained for close to two decades.

“Deborah Mlongo is an astute professional with over 15 years of experience as a medical doctor, specialising in internal medicine and infectious diseases. She has proven leadership skills and is goal-oriented, seeking to offer comprehensive, quality care through consultancy, leadership, and capacity building. She has taken on Kenya’s critical assignments in the health sector, including addressing outbreak-prone infections,” the statement added.

With Mlongo at the helm, KEMSA believes they will be able to achieve their core public mandate more efficiently.

“We look forward to working with Deborah Mlongo to achieve our organisational mandate of providing cost-effective supply chain solutions as the backbone of healthcare services in Kenya through last-mile delivery to more than 15,000 health facilities countrywide,” KEMSA concluded.

When Mlongo takes over at Afya House, eyes will be keen to see how she will perform, especially because she is coming in at a time when public institutions are under the immense spotlight following Gen Z’s call for accountability.

Susan Nakhumicha, the immediate former Health CS, faced numerous challenges including months-long protests by doctors. Health interns also protested as they demanded increments to their salaries as well as permanent postings.

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