Dr Patrick Amoth has finally been confirmed as the country’s director general of health after four years in acting capacity in a major reorganisation at Afya House.

Health Cabinet Secretary, Susan Nakhumicha yesterday actualised a concern she expressed on October 31, 2022 when she was taking over the Ministry from her predecessor, Mutahi Kagwe.

“When I look around the room, I can see that many of you here are in acting capacity. This is something I am going to address soon,” she said then.

And yesterday this came to pass as she made official announcements in an internal memo released to the two Principal Secretaries in the state departments of Public Health and Professional Standards.

Amoth’s patience as a top civil servant in the Ministry was then rewarded.

After serving as the acting director-general, health for close to three years, the position was finally advertised by the Public Service Commission (PSC) in June 2022 raising questions why he could not be confirmed, especially after starring during the Covid-19 pandemic.

The Ministry of Health through PSC advertised the position alongside seven others in which interested and qualified persons were required to apply online through the PSC website before July 4, 2022.

He became a household name during the devastating Covid-19 period that saw him explain technical issues regarding the new disease that had hit the globe, stalling social-economic and even political activities.

The advertisement also came one year after Amoth had been appointed to serve the World Health Organisation (WHO) Board as the Chairperson of the Executive Committee, succeeding Dr Harsh Vardhan from India.

In the move, Dr Zeinab Gura who has been on acting capacity as the Director of Health Care Services, was appointed deputy director general for medical services in the new changes that affected six Semi-Autonomous Government Agencies (SAGAs) under the Ministry.

At the directorate of Family Health, Dr Andrew Mulwa – who has been the acting Director Medical Services, Preventive and Promotive Health – is the new head. He is in charge of nine divisions.

Reproductive health

They  are Reproductive Health and Maternal care headed by Dr Edward Serem, Newborn and Child Health under the leadership of Dr Jannette Karimi, Adolescent and school Health, headed by Dr Christine Wambugu.

Others include, HIV/STI formerly NASCOP, headed by Dr Rose Wafula, NCD Control headed by Dr Ephantus Maree, Immunisation by Dr Rose Jalang’o, Tobacco Control (Dorcas Kiptui), Community Health Services (Dr. Maureen Kimani) and Palliative and Aged Care headed by Dr Muthoni Gichu.

Dr Mulwa’s star has been on the rise since that day in 1991 when his parents declared him dead due to a malaria attack, only to be saved by a passer-by who saw that he was still breathing. “The funeral programme was postponed to allow me to be checked further in hospital,” he said yesterday in Nairobi during an advance World Malaria Day press briefing.

At the Directorate of Clinical Services, the CS picked Dr Irene Inwani from Kenyatta National Hospital where she has been a senior director, clinical services as a chief medical specialist for 24 years.

She will be in charge of four divisions namely; Curative Services, Pathology and Forensic services; National referral Services and Oral Health.

Nakhumicha also appointed Dr Elizabeth Wangia to head the directorate of Health Financing. She has been the Head of the Universal Health Coverage Secretariat.