There is a storm brewing at the National Syndemic Diseases Control Council (NSDCC) where the CEO Dr. Ruth Laibon-Masha is reportedly working without a valid contract.
Her first term ended and she was granted a one-year extension by the former Health CS Nakumicha but there seems to be a disconnect in the renewal process, as the contract was to expire earlier this month but no official new contract has been issued by the current Health CS Dr. Deborah Barasa.
Whispers from the corridors of the Council suggest that she is secretly pushing for a five-year extension.
What makes the situation murkier is a trail of alleged governance breaches and administrative chaos under Dr. Ruth Laibon-Masha leadership.
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It’s reported that her personal file at NSDCC shows no end date on the contract and for two months her salary was processed without a proper contract in place.
When staff in the head of finance flagged this they were suspended.
What followed is an ongoing legal battle.
The head of the legal department who advised on this matter also had their responsibilities stripped away.
This entire saga seems to be a perfect storm of manipulation and unchecked authority.
The SCAC representative Victor Momanyi who is meant to oversee such matters is said to have turned a blind eye.
Meanwhile, the board appears to have slipped into Dr. Masha’s pocket, reportedly held hostage by allowances and frequent meetings.
These board meetings which exceed the limits set for state corporations are seen as rubber-stamp sessions merely designed to punish dissenting staff members.
There are allegations that Dr. Ruth Laibon-Masha requested a five-year contract to bridge the gap between the one-year legal contract and an allegedly fabricated three-year agreement presented to the SCAC.
The CEO has even been accused of manipulating staff to alter documents in her favour.
There are reports of questionable procurement practices, such as a Ksh 35 million contract with Boom Advertising Africa Limited which is allegedly being altered to facilitate payment despite irregularities.
Several complaints have been lodged with investigative agencies, including the Office of the Auditor General and the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) but little seems to have been done to tackle the issues.
The head of internal audit Gabriel Nkari who should act as a whistleblower is said to be part of the cover-up by conducting audits that whitewash the irregularities.
Staff at the NSDCC reportedly live in fear, as Dr Masha rules with an iron fist while the board looks the other way in exchange for perks.
As Dr Ruth Laibon-Masha’s contract approaches its end the drama surrounding her leadership and governance failures only seems to deepen.
There’s no telling how long this unchecked abuse of power will last unless a higher authority steps in and puts a stop to it.
This gap in leadership not only leaves the institution in a precarious position but also throws into question the integrity of the systems meant to keep such organizations in check.
All eyes are now on the new Health CS Dr Deborah Barasa.
