A storm is brewing over the latest appointments to boards of various Nairobi County hospitals, with questions being raised over suitability of some individuals picked to oversee county-run health facilities.
Among those appointed is Calvince Okoth, popularly known as Gaucho, widely recognised for his vocal support of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) and its founder Raila Odinga. Also appointed are benga musician Kennedy Wambua Ngunze, better known as Ken Wa Maria, and Triza Miroya, a United Democratic Alliance (UDA) youth grassroots mobiliser in Kibera.
Mr Okoth was appointed as a board member of Mama Lucy Kibaki Hospital, while Mr Wambua and Ms Miroya were selected for the Mama Margaret Uhuru Hospital board.
The entrance to Mama Margaret Uhuru Hospital in Nairobi on November 30, 2025.
Photo credit: Billy Ogada | Nation Media Group
They join other appointees to various Level 4 and Level 5 hospital boards under Nairobi County’s Health CEC, Suzanne Silantoi.
“In exercise of the powers conferred under Section 9(j) of the Facilities Improvements Financing Act, 2023, the County Executive Committee Member responsible for Health Services in Nairobi City County hereby appoints the listed persons as members of the respective Level 4 and Level 5 hospital boards, with effect from April 16, 2026, for a term of three years,” read the gazette notice dated April 16, 2026.
“All previous appointments to the boards of Level 4 and Level 5 hospital management boards within Nairobi City County stand revoked,” it added.
The appointments have placed the individuals in the spotlight, triggering public debate over their competence and qualifications.
Gaucho, however, said he welcomes the appointment and believes he will prove his critics wrong.
“I thank God. I thank the late Raila Odinga. He had hinted at this appointment three years ago. I also thank Governor Sakaja. I hope this motivates other young people that despite their background, they can still make it,” he said in a phone interview
He added that Mr Odinga had previously advised him to take up a role where he could earn a living while serving the community, either at county or national level.
Gaucho said he was previously on the Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Foundation (JOOF) payroll until Mr Odinga’s death, after which his situation changed.
He said he had initially dismissed the appointment as a joke until he received confirmation, including a congratulatory call from Ida Odinga.
“She told me she was proud of me. She also urged me to help the community, stand for justice, and not allow people to be oppressed,” he said.
His appointment has also attracted criticism over his academic qualifications, but he argued that board membership requires wisdom and community understanding rather than formal education alone.
“To those doubting me, please give me time. I will defend the voiceless. I will stand for justice. I will not remain silent,” he said.
The appointment has, however, drawn mixed reactions.
Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU) Deputy Secretary-General Dennis Miskellah defended the move, saying Governor Sakaja was right to include community representatives on hospital boards.
Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja at his office in Nairobi.
Photo credit: File | Nation Media Group
“The Facilities Improvements Financing (FIF) Act requires the community to have a say in how funds are utilised in hospital. We are so elitist that we think the majority of Kenyans do not deserve a seat at the table,” he said on X
He added that hospital boards are not involved in day-to-day operations but provide oversight and policy direction.
Others also defended the appointments, arguing that inclusivity should not be dismissed. However, Nairobi County Assembly Health Committee Chairperson Maurice Onyango Ochieng said the committee would seek answers on the selection criteria.
“We do not know the criteria used. That is the work of the executive, in line with the separation of powers,” he said. “But we must ask questions because this concerns the health of millions of Nairobi residents.”
The Health Committee has been pushing for the reconstitution of hospital boards for months, saying delays had disrupted operations in the health sector. The new boards are expected to support reforms aligned with Governor Sakaja’s pledge to prioritise healthcare delivery in the county.
