The leadership of the Kenya National Union of Nurses (KNUN) has recommended the appointment of MTRH Chief Executive Officer Dr Wilson Aruasa as the next Health Principal Secretary (PS).
Union’s national secretary general Seth Panyako says Dr Aruasa has the capability and experience to turn around the national health management system in the country.
He spoke after signing a Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) for nurses working at the hospital in Eldoret.
“I want to ask the president that if he is looking at the technical staff to support and strengthen the Ministry of Health, he should not turn his back at MTRH. It has the best management in the public sector,” Panyako said.
“If we want to get the best national health management system, MTRH has the best brains in management and the president should not hesitate to appoint one of the top brains from here,” he added.
Panyako went further to not that he would not hesitate to recommend to the president Dr Aruasa to serve as the Health PS.
“He is capable, able and has managed to move this hospital from where it was to where it is today,” said the nurses’ union boss.
“You can imagine if we have him at the national level the whole country can experience his expertise…” he added.
Dr Aruasa has served as the CEO for the Eldoret-based MTRH since February 2016 when he was appointed for a five-year term. He was re-appointed to serve for a second term of three years in December 2020.
Second biggest public hospital
He took over the leadership of the hospital from Dr John Kibosia.
MTRH is the second largest public hospital in Kenya after the Nairobi-based Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH).
Further, the hospital serves at least 22 counties in the North Rift and Western Kenya as well as parts of Uganda and South Sudan.
Calls for President William Ruto to consider Dr Aruasa for an appointment at his government comes just days after he named his cabinet.
Already, the president has nominated Susan Wafula Nakhumicha as the next Health Cabinet Secretary to take over from Mutahi Kagwe.
Once the cabinet is approved, Ruto is expected to appoint Principal Secretaries (PSs).
