The Kenyatta University Teaching, Referral and Research Hospital (KUTRRH) Board chair Olive Mugenda has maintained that the appointment of Ahmed Dagane as CEO had been undertaken procedurally.
Speaking in Mombasa on Thursday, Mugenda dismissed the public notion that individuals with a Nursing background or health related degrees cannot run such an institution.
She said Dagane had landed the role due to his professional qualifications and experience.
Mugenda said KUTRRH is an equal opportunity employer and operates strictly within the confines of the Constitution and related legal provisions.
“Dagane is a qualified and experienced Clinical Professional with a background in Nursing and holds postgraduate Master in Business Administration Qualifications,” Mugenda said.
“He was competitively recruited and continues to serve well within his appointment and performance terms.”
She said that several rulings had been rendered by various courts confirming that qualified candidates cannot be blocked from serving in such leadership positions based on subsidiary legal schedules.
This is after Mugenda was put on the spot by the MPs for allegedly allowing an 'unqualified' person to run the facility.
Members of the Public Investments Committee on Governance and Education censured Mugenda for breaking the law as the CEO of the hospital, Ahmed Dagane, is not trained as a doctor.
Bumula MP Wamboka Wanami said Mugenda had broken the law by allowing Dagane to run the facility.
Mugenda told the committee that Dagane is a holder of a degree in nursing and has a master's degree in Business Administration.
Attorney General Justin Muturi, who was also before the committee, told members the requirement is that the CEO should be a medical doctor.
Dagane was appointed the CEO of Kenyatta University Teaching, Referral and Research Hospital in July 2022.
