Amoth to be vetted by both Houses for top Health post
The Speaker of the National Assembly, Moses Wetangula, has directed that the vetting of the nominee proposed for appointment as Director-General for Health be conducted by a joint committee of the two houses of parliament.
Wetang’ula said in a statement that the Departmental Committee on Health of the National Assembly will sit jointly with that of the Senate to vet Dr Patrick Amoth the nominee of the position.
The Speaker notified members that the Cabinet Secretary for Health, Susan Nakhumicha, exercising powers conferred by Section 16(2) of the Health Act, 2017, had nominated Dr Amoth (pictured) for appointment as the Director-General for Health.
“The Cabinet Secretary therefore seeks the approval of Parliament on the said nomination,” the Speaker said.
Wetangula explained that the joint committees shall, having concluded the approval hearings, submit a joint report to the respective Houses in the manner contemplated by Paragraph 7 of Joint Rule No. 9. The approval process shall be conducted in accordance with the provisions of the Public Appointments (Parliamentary Approval) Act, 2011.
Although the Health Act does not provide specific timelines within which the House is to consider the nominee, the Speaker disclosed that Section 8(1) of the Public Appointments (Parliamentary Approval) Act, 2011 requires the relevant House to undertake the exercise within twenty-eight (28) days.
According to the Speaker, the committee is expected to jointly commence the approval process forthwith, notify the nominee and the general public of the time and place for holding the approval hearings, and upon conclusion, table their report within statutory timelines.
Acting capacity
Amoth has occupied the position in an acting capacity for more than four years after succeeding Dr John Masasabi. Amoth who has been acting as DG since 2019, has been serving as a chief technical advisor to the government in liaison with the Ministry of Health.
The Public Service Commission in February re-advertised for the position of the DG, the first time that the commission had made the advertisement.
In June 2022, the commission officially advertised for the position and asked those who were interested to apply.
Nakhumicha when reorganising the ministry in April last year announced that Amoth would continue holding the office in an acting capacity effective April 19, 2023.
Nakhumicha said then that Amoth has the avenue to rightfully and officially secure the position since it had been advertised.
“So we have to advertise for the job. The advert does not exclude Amoth from applying. I have confidence, given the experience he has, he (Amoth) should emerge as the best,” Nakhumicha said.
