President William Ruto nominated Dr Deborah Barasa to be the new Health Cabinet Secretary on July 19.
As a nominee in a Ministry that is central to the interests of many, Deborah was quickly thrust into the limelight with Kenyans interested in establishing her qualifications for the crucial docket.
A section of Kenyans on social media raised questions on Barasa’s registration moments after the President named her, with X user @Kimani Sammy6, and a section of Kenyans questioning if she was deregistered as a doctor.
Screenshots shared by several X users showed that nominee’s name was among those removed from the register of the Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Council (KMPDC) back in 2019 to further fuel doubts about her eligibility.
However, the Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU) Secretary General (SG) Davji Atellah clarified that she had not been deregistered, but she had delayed in updating her license as required by the law.
“Not deregistered she just delayed updating her license,” Davji clarified.
In a subsequent update, reports indicated that Deborah paid the Ksh80,000 required to secure registration by KMPDC hours after the nomination and questions from Kenyans online.
A spot check by The Kenya Times also established that Dr Deborah Barasa’s name had been reinstated to the KMPDC register with a Specialist Practice (internal medicine) license.
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KMPDU Endorses Deborah’s Nomination
Following her appointment by President William Ruto, Davji expressed support towards her nomination, stating that KMPDU is willing to support her steer the health sector to the right direction and restore dignity in the profession.
“We are willing to support the new CS nominee to restore dignity in the profession and the quality of healthcare in the country. Congratulations!!”
“KMPDU Congratulates Dr. Deborah Mulongo Baraza on her appointment at the Cabinet Secretary for Health. We warmly welcome her to the dutiful responsibility of ensuring quality health care systems for all Kenyans, including decent work for all health workers,” KMPDU said.
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Deborah Barasa Nominated
President Ruto on Friday, July 19, nominated Deborah Mulongo Barasa as the Cabinet Secretary for Health alongside 10 other nominees.
If approved by the vetting panel in the National Assembly, Barasa will assume her role as the new CS.
Mulongo is a medical doctor specializing in Internal Medicine and Infectious Diseases with over 18 years of experience.
She has over 15 years of field experience, advancing from a senior medical officer to an Internal Medicine Physician and technical advisor.
Her work spans national, referral, private health institutions, and Community-Based Organizations.
Additionally, Deborah is an Internal Medicine physician and Infectious Disease Expert at the World Health Organization (WHO).
At the WHO, she has developed sustainable programs in Eastern and Southern Africa, assisted member states in creating and implementing national action plans, and provided technical guidance on global policies and guidelines.
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