Kembi Gitura’s sudden resignation as Chairman of the Board at Kenyatta University Teaching, Referral, and Research Hospital has sparked debate, but not for the reasons he wants Kenyans to believe.
Barely eight months after his appointment, Gitura is walking away, claiming that his decision is driven by corruption in President William Ruto’s administration.
On the surface, his statement appears bold and principled, but Kenyans have not forgotten his long record of questionable conduct. His exit is less about integrity and more about political survival in a region where the political tide is shifting fast.
When Gitura speaks of corruption, it rings hollow. This is the same man who chaired the Kenya Medical Supplies Authority during the COVID-19 pandemic, a period that exposed one of the worst procurement scandals in Kenya’s history. Billions of shillings meant for essential medical supplies were lost through dubious contracts.
Evidence later revealed that companies tied directly to Gitura and his family benefited.
Absa Chemicals Limited, linked to him, received Sh21 million. His brother’s firm, Racking System Warehousing, secured a staggering Sh959 million contract, and other family-associated firms pocketed millions more.
Instead of shielding Kenyans at a time of great need, Gitura allowed KEMSA to be turned into a playground for profiteering.
What stands out is not just the scale of the scandal, but also his arrogance in defending himself.
Appearing before Parliament, Gitura admitted to instructing the KEMSA CEO to sign controversial contracts under the guise of protecting public funds.
His explanations did little to convince Kenyans who were already reeling from the reality that money meant to save lives had vanished into private pockets.
Today, the same man presents himself as a reformer who cannot stand Ruto’s administration. For many, it feels like history is repeating itself, with Gitura twisting the narrative to suit his political ambitions.
Beyond the corruption scandals, Gitura’s resignation is better understood in the context of Mount Kenya politics. His move appears to be a calculated step to distance himself from Ruto and align with former deputy president Rigathi Gachagua, who is positioning himself as the region’s political kingpin.
Gitura understands that 2027 will be heavily influenced by Mount Kenya’s voting bloc, and he does not want to be branded as Ruto’s ally at a time when discontent in the region is growing.
His departure from KUTRRH is therefore not a matter of principle, but a repositioning strategy to stay relevant in the political field.
Kenyans, however, are not blind to this strategy. They have seen Gitura benefit from one state appointment after another, from KEMSA to the Communications Authority of Kenya, and most recently KUTRRH.
Each role came with influence, contracts, and access to power. Now that the political winds are changing, he is abandoning ship in hopes of cleaning his image and presenting himself as a man of conviction. But his past is too heavy to shake off.
The scandals under his watch remain fresh in people’s minds, especially the billions lost at KEMSA during a pandemic.
The attempt to frame his resignation as an act of morality is an insult to the public. It undermines the struggles of ordinary Kenyans who suffered when hospitals lacked basic supplies while elites enriched themselves.
His carefully worded exit is nothing more than an act of political theater, crafted to position him for a comeback. Gitura is not resigning to fight corruption or to uphold good governance.
He is doing it to survive politically, to secure a seat at the Mount Kenya table ahead of 2027.In the end, his resignation does not cleanse him. It only reminds Kenyans of his role in one of the darkest chapters of the country’s health sector. Kembi Gitura is not a reformer.
He is a survivor, one who shifts allegiance whenever it suits his ambitions. His past corruption scandals will continue to shadow every move he makes, no matter how much he tries to rewrite the story.
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