Dr Patrick Amoth has finally been confirmed as the Ministry of Health Director General(DG) after acting for four years in a major reorganization at Afya House.

The DG has been serving as a chief technical advisor to the government in liaison with the Ministry of Health in an acting capacity since 2019.

The Public Service Commission advertised the DG position alongside seven other positions in the Ministry in July 2022.

The applications were to be made online through the PSC website.

This spiked a debate about why he wasn’t confirmed after outdoing himself during the Covid 19 pandemic.

When Health Cabinet Secretary(CS) assumed office on October 31, 2022, she expressed concern over officials at Afya House serving in an acting capacity that she has actualised.

“When I look around the room, I can see that many of you here are in an acting capacity. This is something I am going to address soon ,” she said.

Further, in an Internal memo dated April 19, the Health CS has moved Dr Andrew Mulwa to the Directorate of Family Health.
Mulwa has been the director Directorate of Preventive and Promotive Health. Joseph Lenai is taking over the directorate from Mulwa.
“The above officers assume office in acting position effective April 19, 2023,” the CS said.
Wafula has also created positions for two new deputies to the DG.
They include Dr Zainab Gura, deputy DG of the state Department of medical services, and Dr Sultani Matendechero, deputy director general under the Department of Public Health and Professional Standards.
PS Peter Tum and PS Josephine Mburu head the two departments.
In March last year, the ministry blamed the Public Service Commission for the delayed appointment of Amoth as the substantive director general.
The then Health CS Mutahi Kagwe told senators that PSC had delayed approving the ministry’s proposed organisational structure and staff establishment to allow it to fill the position.
The lawmakers had demanded answers on why Amoth has occupied the position in an acting capacity since 2019.
He succeeded Dr John Masasabi, who had been deployed to the position in April 2019.
In the new changes, others appointed in Acting capacity are Irene Inwani, who will be in charge of the Directorate of Clinical Services and Elizabeth Wangia in the Directorate of Health Financing.
Dr Francis Kuria has been retained as the Director at the Directorate of Public Health and Sanitation.