Susan Nakhumicha, the health cabinet secretary, sparked debate on Saturday when she issued instructions that John Thuo, the officer commanding station (OCS) for Matisi, be transferred immediately.
The CS directed sanctions against the police chief in Trans Nzoia County due to the unrest in Matisi. This is true even if she does not have the authority to reassign security employees.
The CS asserted that the team in charge of President William Ruto had adopted a “one-government approach,” allowing her the authority to make broad decisions affecting other ministries.
“We are employing a single government strategy. This signifies that I am directing the reassignment of Matisi OCS from this position since I am speaking for President William Ruto’s administration.”
“If the county commandant is present, or if he is not, let him know that the CS has ordered that the Matisi OCS leave this area by tomorrow. “I’ll just go and report the action I’ve taken to my colleague (Interior CS Kithure), Kindiki,” CS Nakhumicha remarked.
The CS made the comments at Joseph Marango’s funeral service. Joseph Marango was a well-known bouncer who was slain in Kitale during anti-government demonstrations.
The 32-year-old Terminator, also known as The Terminator, died of a knife attack while trying to unlock a road that had been blocked by young people, demonstrating the exorbitant cost of living.
Since then, a video of Nakhumicha speaking to the mourners has gone viral and divided Kenyans on social media.
Kenyans criticised Nakhumicha for exceeding her authority by claiming to send out instructions impacting Kithure Kindiki’s Ministry of Interior and National Administration.
Interesting times to be alive: Health CS Susan Nakhumicha ‘transfers’ an Officer Commanding Station (OCS) for Matisi. I admire the strong personality that the CS has displayed pic.twitter.com/wajU2I6L6q
— Stephen Mutoro (@smutoro) July 29, 2023
Dear Waziri Susan Nakhumicha
Stop overstepping on your mandate. Matters National Security and administration are under the docket of Prof. Kithure Kindiki and PS Omollo. Public lynching is UNACCEPTABLE. OCS Matisi is answerable to the Ministry of Interior and Coordination. pic.twitter.com/IbFDguO7Gb
— Abuga Makori EGH, MBE (@abuga_makori) July 30, 2023