The Ministry of Health plays a crucial role in ensuring the well-being of citizens by providing medical services to those in need.
The docket is currently under the leadership of Hon. Deborah Mulongo Barasa, who serves as the Cabinet Secretary for Health.
However, concerns have been raised regarding her ability to manage the ministry effectively, with both the Senate and the public questioning her competence in handling critical health matters.
According to the Standard newspaper dated Thursday, March 6, 2025, details have emerged explaining why CS Deborah Mulongo Barasa has been termed as clueless.
The report highlights instances where she has struggled to provide clear answers when addressing key issues in the health sector, particularly regarding the new public health insurance scheme.
It is noted that she called for a press briefing but appeared ill-prepared, struggling to respond to questions posed by journalists. This has raised concerns about her grasp of the ministry’s policies and her ability to communicate them effectively.
The report further indicates that this is not the first time the Health CS has faced difficulties in explaining government policies. Just last week, she found herself in a tough situation when appearing before the Senate, where she was grilled about the Social Health Authority.
Senators Richard Onyonka, Edwin Sifuna, Okiya Omtatah, and Enoch Wambua demanded answers on how the new health insurance scheme would be implemented and whether it would benefit ordinary Kenyans.
However, instead of providing satisfactory responses, the CS struggled to explain the policies, further fueling doubts about her leadership.
The concerns raised by the Senate and the public indicate a growing frustration with the manner in which the Health Ministry is being managed. The public health insurance scheme is a critical program meant to ensure affordable healthcare for all Kenyans, yet the person leading the ministry appears to lack a clear understanding of its implementation.
This has led to fears that the program could be mismanaged, leaving millions of Kenyans without proper healthcare coverage.
CS Deborah Mulongo Barasa’s struggles in handling media interviews and Senate queries have only added to the perception that she may not be the right person for the job.
The health sector requires strong leadership, especially at a time when the country is grappling with challenges such as the rising cost of healthcare and shortages of medical supplies.
If the Health CS continues to appear unprepared and unable to articulate key policies, it could lead to further mistrust in the government’s ability to deliver quality healthcare services.
The public will be watching closely to see if CS Deborah Mulongo Barasa can improve her performance or if calls for her replacement will grow louder.
For now, the concerns raised by both the Senate and the media suggest that there is a serious leadership gap in the Health Ministry that needs urgent attention.
