Health Cabinet Secretary Sicily Kariuki has found herself in uncharted territory after a motion seeking to impeach her has been tabled in parliament for debate.
Having only been in office just over a month, Kariuki faces the exit door after most legislators in the National Assembly signed the petition seeking her removal. The CS has various allegations leveled against her among them abuse of office and gross misconduct.
However, the CS may have inherited an ailing Health sector from his predecessor Dr Cleopa Mailu.The recent surgery mix-up at the Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH), that saw nurse Mary Wahome blamed for the blunder, cannot be solely blamed on the CS.
As other CSs are aptly carrying on with their activities, Kariuki still has her fate unknown after the motion filed by Mandera North Mp Major (Rtd) Bashir Abdullahi also blames the CS of illegally suspending KNH CEO Lily Koros after the surgery mix-up.
Before taking up the Health sector, KNH had already been marred with alleged rape allegations and though she was in office, the disappearance of the twin baby at the hospital should squarely blamed on the KNH's management.
One month is not enough for CS Kariuki to implement the desired changes and adjustments. In fact, the CS may have also inherited the same personnel that was in office when alleged Kshs 5 billion could not be accounted for. At that time, the then CS Cleopa Mailu never faced an impeachment despite a public outcry concerning corruption in the country.
If changes must be made, then the CS should not shoulder the blame alone and a host of other leaders in the Health department should also face the axe. Constant changing of an individual in the whole affected ministry will not solve anything as the successor will also face the same challenges.
The legislators should thus give the CS ample time to sort her ministry out and make the required changes that will bring sanity to to the Health docket. The motion to impeach Kariuki should be shelved until it is proven beyond reasonable doubt that the CS cannot perform.