NAIROBI, Kenya, Apr 4 Ouma Oluga, President William Ruto’s nominee for Principal Secretary in the State Department for Medical Services, has committed to implementing wide-ranging reforms aimed at resolving deep seated challenges within the healthcare sector.
Appearing before the National Assembly’s Committee on Health, the former secretary-general of the Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU) outlined a reform agenda focused on restoring trust with health workers, improving service delivery, and ensuring prudent use of public resources.
“You’ve fought from the outside; now you’ll govern from the inside. How you navigate these realities will be closely watched,” Committee Chairperson James Nyikal queried.
Oluga emphasized the need for a robust and inclusive dialogue framework to address the persistent industrial actions by health workers. Drawing from his union background, he said his experience would help bridge the gap between policy and practice.
“I am prepared to use my experience to bridge the divide and prioritize the needs of the health system and its workers,” he said.
He pointed to two key institutions established under the Health Act of 2017 the Kenya Health Human Resource Advisory Council (KHHRAC) and the Kenya Health Professionals Oversight Authority (KHPOA) as essential in addressing labor and regulatory issues in the sector.
“Even when the right thing is done, it must be understood by those affected. Some of the challenges with the health workforce stem from a breakdown in engagement mechanisms. We need to strengthen these institutions and adopt a more inclusive dialogue model,” Oluga said.
He acknowledged past efforts to establish dialogue committees at hospital, county, and national levels to implement Collective Bargaining Agreements (CBAs), but noted the need to revamp and harmonize these platforms for better outcomes.
MPs also challenged Oluga to address entrenched cartels within the ministry, particularly those linked to infrastructure projects that often divert funds from essential services.
Legislators expressed concern that the procurement of life-saving drugs, especially for tuberculosis and HIV, had taken a back seat due to misallocated resources.
Oluga pledged to steer funding towards frontline service delivery as opposed to the current scenario that has affected service delivery.
“We must shift our focus from mijengo to medicines. The priority should be ensuring availability of drugs, especially for conditions like TB and HIV, which have suffered from the withdrawal of donor funding such as USAID and PEPFAR,” he said.
The nominee was also questioned on delays in the disbursement of funds to key health institutions, including Mathari National Teaching and Referral Hospital and other Semi-Autonomous Government Agencies (SAGAs).
The delays, lawmakers expressed stemmed from bureaucratic inefficiencies following the dissolution of the Nairobi Metropolitan Services (NMS).
Oluga assured the committee that resolving funding bottlenecks for health facilities would be a top priority.
The committee further raised concerns about internal power struggles between the two Principal Secretaries in the ministry and the Director General of Health.
MPs accused the PSs of overstepping their mandate, undermining the DG’s office, and contributing to friction at the top level.
Oluga committed to fostering a collaborative leadership environment to avert any paralysis in the docket.
“It is essential for the DG and the PSs to work in harmony. I will champion institutional respect and define roles clearly to avoid duplication, conflicts, or paralysis in decisionmaking,” he said.
