NAIROBI, Kenya – Former Health Cabinet Secretary Susan Nakhumicha has been appointed Kenya’s Permanent Representative to the UN Habitat in Nairobi, marking her return to government after her abrupt dismissal from the Cabinet in July 2024.
President William Ruto announced her appointment on March 20, 2025, in an Executive Order restructuring government roles.
A State House statement confirmed that the changes were part of broader efforts to streamline government operations.
“The Presidential Action, serialized as Executive Order No. 1 of 2025, causes nominations to and re-assignments of State Departments, as well as postings to the nation’s foreign service,” the statement read.
The reshuffle, according to State House, is meant to tap into emerging economic opportunities while addressing social and governance challenges.
The statement further linked the appointments to Ruto’s Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA).
Nakhumicha’s return to public service comes just weeks after she publicly opened up about her struggles post-dismissal.
Speaking in Kitale on March 7, during the memorial service of former IEBC chair Wafula Chebukati, she revealed that she had turned to farming in Cherangany, growing and selling cabbages to make ends meet.
Her comments sparked debate, with leaders from Western Kenya urging President Ruto to give her another chance in government.
At Chebukati’s burial on March 8, Kiminini MP Maurice Kakai led calls for her reinstatement, saying she was still capable of serving the country.
Nakhumicha was fired in July 2024, along with several other Cabinet Secretaries, in a major reshuffle following public discontent with the government. She was replaced by Deborah Barasa on August 8, 2024.
In the months that followed, she admitted to facing financial struggles, even requesting prayers from ACK Archbishop Jackson Ole Sapit, citing challenges since her unexpected exit.
With her appointment to UN Habitat, Nakhumicha now finds herself back in government, albeit in a different capacity.
Her new role at the UN agency will see her represent Kenya in global urban development and housing matters.
