DP Gachagua welcomes Eng. Kamau's appointment to NHIF board: "His dignity's been restored"

Deputy President Rigathi has welcomed the appointment of former Transport Cabinet Secretary Michael Kamau to chairman of National Hospital Insurance Fund board of directors. 

Rigathi said in a statement last evening: "Thank you, my Boss, H.E. President William Ruto for restoring the dignity of Eng. Michael Kamau. A distinguished Public Servant who put in years of committed service to our great Nation of Kenya, he was persecuted and taken through hell by the very Government he had served.

"For 8 years, the son of Kenya has not known peace. The appointment of Eng. Kamau to chair the board of NHIF brings experience and efficiency to an institution critical in implementing the Kenya Kwanza Plan of realising Universal Health Coverage for all Kenyans."

Eng. Kamau was unceremoniously sacked during the Jubilee administration's first tenure in office over allegations of corruption and misappropriation of public funds. The KSh33 million in question was allegedly lost during the re-design of construction of Kamukuywa-Kapsokwony-Sirisia Road.

During the burial of his late mother Immaculata Wanjiku in 2015, a bitter Kamau vehemently defended himself against the accusations, terming them as a witch-hunt orchestrated by an influential businessman. 

"From the bottom of my heart, tell President Kenyatta that I have not ashamed him," a visibly bitter Eng. Kamau said during the funeral. "Mujue mama yangu akiwa hapa akizikwa, you are not burying the mother of a thief." 

Yesterday, Nandi Senator Samson Cherargei said Eng. Kamau "was a victim of political witch hunt/political conmanship like most Kenyans where criminal justice was weaponised to pursue political agendas under Uhuru's government." 

"Most of these politically motivated cases shall crumble like a pack of cards," he added. 

Eng. Kamau's appointment followed the revocation by President William Ruto of Lewis Ngunyai as chair of the NHIF board. 

"I wish to extend my deepest gratitude and appreciation to His Excellency the President for giving me the opportunity to steer the NHIF board to the next level," said Eng. Kamau after the appointment. "As I take over my new role, I am alive to the challenges the Fund has experienced in its efforts to ensure that every Kenyan has access to affordable health cover, which is a priority of the government."