Rachael Nyamai: Controversy-prone MP or leader who speaks her mind?

Rachael Kaki Nyamai is not new to controversy or defiance of norms. Just a few days ago, the Kitui South MP survived an attempt to oust her as chair of the National Assembly’s Health Committee, which is probing allegations of corruption involving billions of shillings at Afya House.

A petition for a vote of no confidence — said to have been signed by 20 of the 29 members of the committee — mysteriously went missing, bringing the process to an abrupt end.

The committee launched the investigations in the wake of revelations in the ministry’s internal audit documents that some officers at Afya House may have colluded with some wayward suppliers to steal public funds or divert them to pay for what had not been budgeted for.

Some of the suppliers are alleged to have been paid before even delivering goods, and are yet to actually deliver the same goods.

An air of dissatisfaction has lately engulfed the committee with a section of members questioning Dr Nyamai’s leadership style.

A number of them have also accused her of stopping them from expressing themselves freely during meetings.

On Tuesday, as committee members deliberated on the existence of the petition list, Dr Nyamai kept her cool, constantly referring to House Standing Orders and maintaining that she had not been served.

“I know this matter has been widely discussed, but I have not seen the document signed by 20 members that allegedly want me removed,” she said during the stormy mid-morning session.

In 2014, Dr Nyamai ordered the arrest of a blogger named Mbuvi Kisina for criticising her on social media, specifically Facebook.

Mr Kisina claimed that his woes were linked to his bold demand for accountability in the management of money in the Kitui South Constituency Development Fund.

In yet another controversial matter the same year, a suspect in the controversial transfer of the 134 acres in Karen, Nairobi, was ordered to refund Dr Nyamai Sh10 million.

This followed an application by the MP alleging fraud where she accused James Mbaluka of not honouring his part of the sale agreement.

In the ruling, Milimani Commercial Court Principal Magistrate David Mbaru ordered Mr Mbaluka to refund the money to the MP plus an interest of Sh2 million.

Born on August 28, 1976 in Kitui County, Dr Nyamai is married to Titus Mavui Ngumu and is serving her first term in Parliament. She was elected on a Narc party ticket in the Jubilee Coalition.

Her decision to defy the Wiper Democratic Party wave in her Ukambani region and her victory in the Kitui South seat during the 2013 General Election caught many by surprise.

A trained teacher by profession, Dr Nyamai is known to stand her ground on matters she strongly supports.

She is an active member of the 11th Parliament and has sponsored four of the 20 Bills championed by women MPs in both the Senate and the National Assembly.

Among the Bills she has sponsored is the Health Bill 2015, which has a clause compelling companies and government institutions to provide breastfeeding stations for nursing mothers in the workplace.

In March this year, MPs approved the clause under the Bill, which provides that the stations be well equipped with facilities such as electric outlets for breast pumps and refrigerators.

The Bill, which is a win for women, will be a game-changer as lactating mothers will not be limited to breastfeeding their children only after work.

Dr Nyamai is also the force behind the Diabetes Management Bill 2014, which is at its first reading; the Traditional Health Practitioners Bill 2014 also at its first reading; and the Kenya Aids Control Authority Bill, 2014.

Prior to joining elective politics in 2013, she worked as a lecturer at Kenyatta University. She also lectured at South Eastern University College in Kitui County between 2011 and 2012.

She holds a PhD in Global Health from the University of Aarhus, Denmark.

Dr Nyamai had demonstrated that she is a hard tackler in politics and takes parliamentary business quite seriously.

When President Uhuru Kenyatta unveiled his Jubilee national campaign team to spearhead his re-election bid, it did not come as a surprise that her name was mentioned.

Dr Nyamai was named alongside seasoned politicians like Senator Kiraitu Murungi, Senate Majority Leader Kindiki Kithure and Kalembe Ndile to be in charge of the Eastern region.

But what captured the attention of many are the accusations levelled against her by Kathiani MP Robert Mbui that her domineering attitude in the Health Committee is geared towards protecting the Executive.

“She says that protecting the government is a political responsibility, yet part of roles of MPs is to oversight the Executive. So her statements are outrageous,” Mr Mbui said during a recent TV interview.

He wondered why Dr Nyamai ruled that the internal auditor, who lifted the lid on the questionable dealings at Afya House, could not be invited to give a witness statement yet the same person appeared before the Senate a few days later to speak on the same scandal.

On Tuesday Mr Mbui, who sat next to Dr Nyamai, accused her of constantly stopping him from talking during meetings, a claim which invited a backlash.

Known as a person who speaks her mind, Dr Nyamai told him off “for introducing regional rivalries between Machakos Governor Alfred Mutua and Cord co-principal and former Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka in the committee.”

Aside from chairing the Health committee, she is also a member of the National Assembly Liaison Committee and the House Business Committee.