Kidero appoints new county executives to head health, agriculture

Nairobi County Governor Evans Kidero has appointed two new county executives to the Health and Agriculture dockets, positions that were left vacant following the dismissal of the previous office holders over alleged underperformance.

The two were sworn in Friday morning with Dr Bernard Muia taking over the health docket and Dr Bernard Mugenyo the Agriculture and Fisheries sector. They will replace John Gakuo and Timothy Kingondu who were dismissed in October last year.

Dr Muia, who has been a deputy director at the Health Promotion Unit, comes into office at a time of uncertainty at the Pumwani Maternity Hospital with nurses on strike over their security among other grievances.

“Probably we haven’t given them as much support as we should and we haven’t been the voice that protects them,” Dr Kidero said during the swearing in ceremony.

“So I will expect you to create an environment where all workers enjoy their work and foster confidence.”

He is also tasked with repairing the county health sector's reputation especially in the wake of allegations that a couple’s twins were switched at birth with dead babies in Pumwani.

Dr Muia, who holds a Master’s degree in International public health from Hebrew University in Jerusalem, will also be expected to reconstitute the county health management boards and hospitals’ management boards as well as revamping infrastructure.

“We’ve started a very ambitious project of rehabilitating Pumwani, and that together with Mutuini (hospital) will be for you to run,” Mr Kidero said.

“And of course, we are going to build Mbagathi to be better than Kenyatta National Hospital and that’s one of your deliverables.”

Dr Mugenyo, who has been Nairobi county director for Veterinary Services under the ministry of Agriculture, was asked to ensure that meat consumed in the city is safe.