Several MPs are planning to table a special motion to impeach Health CS Sicily Kariuki on grounds of abuse of office and disrespect for elected leaders.
Nelson Koech (Belgut), Bashir Abdullahi (Mandera North) and Rehema Jaldesa (Isiolo woman representative) said the motion will be presented on Tuesday.
In a notice to the department on Wednesday, they accused the CS of abusing her office since taking over from Cleopa Mailu on February 16.
Addressing a press conference at Parliament buildings, they
said Kariuki did so by arbitrarily suspending KNH CEO Lily Koros after a brain surgery error
Read:
Abdullahi, who will move the motion, said they have already presented it alongside signatures to the offices of Speaker Justin Muturi and Michael Sialai.
“Over 100 MPs have signed the petition. By next week , after seven days as required by the house, we will be discussing this matter," he said.
The lawmaker further accused the "arrogant" CS of interfering
with the recruitment of the Chief Executive Officer of the Kenya Medical Supplies Agency (Kemasa).
"She has used her office to deny other qualified Kenyans the chance to be the CEO of the hospital by ordering the board to submit another list," his notice states.
"The same CS has misused public funds by ordering the refurbishment of an entire floor where her office is located."
He noted that
pursuant to article 152(6) of the Constitution, the President should dismiss Kariuki from for "gross misconduct and abuse of office".
The MPs move came just days after the National Assembly Health committee tabled its report recommending the disbandment of the KNH board.
Koech said the legislators had given the committee time to carry out an inquiry into the matter before proceeding with the impeachment.
But he added that it appears Kariuki influenced the report which he said puts the blame on Koros.
“It is clear from the report that Kariuki could have played a role in the writing. We will not allow that and from the next week, we will proceed with the impeachment motion,” he said.
Also read:
Jaldesa, while also accusing the CS of arrogance and disrespect, claimed she was once told to leave her bag at the reception before being allowed into Kariuki’s office.
She said this happened while she was Minister of Public Service and Gender Affairs.
“Power has gotten into her head. I was told to leave the phone at the reception when I visited her office,” she said.
Read more:
Koros and an officer in charge of clinical affairs were sent home to make room for investigations but some MPs accused Kairuki of victimising the CEO.
They claimed she teamed up with cartels at the largest referral hospital in Kenya to have Koros sacked.
A group of about 15 MPs vowed to impeach her for sending Koros on compulsory leave.
Led by Aldai’s Cornelly Serem, they said they had collected more than 100 signatures to support the motion.
“She has no legal mandate to fire or even to direct the board to send the CEO on compulsory leave. We are concerned at what is happening at KNH,” he said on March 6.
The impeachment plan gained momentum early this month after a number of members of the National Assembly signed the motion.
By March 8, at least 124 MPs had signed it.
The Constitution requires at least a third of the 349 members of the National Assembly to append their signatures to meet the threshold.
Read: