Former Health CS Susan Nakhumicha is a walking shame. Her recent words in Budalangi have once again shown the pride and entitlement that many Kenyans remember from her time in office.
At a funeral event on Saturday, August 30, 2025, she told mourners that it was their time to eat from the government. She said everything should only be multiplied and nothing should ever be reduced.
“Hii serikali tuliyomo ni yetu na tuko na haki ya kukula kila kitu kwenye hii serikali. Kwa hio, hesabu yetu ni ya addition and multiplication. Mambo ya minus hakuna,” Nakhumicha said.
For Kenyans who watched her at Afya House, this boast was not shocking. Her leadership at the Ministry of Health left behind pain and disappointment. Health workers spent months on strike over delayed pay.
Hospitals went without supplies. Patients were turned away because of poor services. Instead of sitting down to talk, she was often combative. She gave the picture of a leader who did not care enough to listen.
She is also remembered for pushing the idea that later became the Social Health Authority. The framework of SHA was first conceived during her time.
She sold it as a plan that would solve problems in healthcare. But the foundation she laid was shaky. It lacked proper safeguards. It opened space for confusion, gaps and corruption.
Former Health CS Susan Nakhumicha during a past event. Photo: NTV Kenya Source: X
Today, SHA has failed to win the trust of Kenyans. Many say it is ineffective and rushed. While the official launch came after she left, the seeds of the current mess were planted when she was still in charge. For that reason, she cannot escape responsibility.
Her time at Afya House is remembered more for fights and half-finished reforms than for solutions. The sector never found stability under her watch.
That is why her remarks about eating from government resources have sparked so much anger. They remind Kenyans of the arrogance that marked her style. They remind Kenyans of leaders who see power as a chance to enjoy and not to serve.
For a former Health CS, words like these cut deep. They shame the very people who once trusted her with their lives. And they confirm why many still believe Susan Nakhumicha’s record is one of failure.