Principal Secretary nominee for Medical Services, Dr. Ouma Oluga, has pledged to prioritize dialogue over confrontation in handling strikes by health workers, should he be approved for the post.
Appearing before the National Assembly’s Health Committee for vetting, Dr. Oluga, who previously served as the Secretary General of the Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU), defended his track record as a unionist and outlined how he would approach industrial disputes as a senior government official.
The vetting, chaired by Seme MP Dr. James Nyikal, saw several lawmakers raise questions about Oluga’s union background and his ability to transition from activist to policymaker.
The nominee led KMPDU from 2014 until 2020, before taking up senior positions at the Nairobi Metropolitan Services and later at the Ministry of Health.
Committee members, including Endebess MP Robert Pukose, Kitutu Chache South MP Anthony Kibagendi, and Mogotio MP Reuben Kiborek, pressed Dr. Oluga on how he plans to manage healthcare workers’ strikes if confirmed as PS.
“In my past role, I only led one national strike. I bring with me strong organizational and negotiation skills which, I believe, will help resolve issues through dialogue,” said Dr. Oluga.
He added that if appointed, he would work closely with trade unions and be transparent about government processes and financial constraints.
“I won’t shy away from dialogue. I believe in joint problem-solving and will always be open with union leaders. However, negotiations must be based on truth and guided by the available resources,” he told the committee.
On the ongoing concerns surrounding the rollout of the new Social Health Authority (SHA), Dr. Oluga expressed confidence in the system and called for patience.
He noted that the previous National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) had taken 59 years to build a membership base of just 6 million, while the new SHA and Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF) had already registered 21 million members in just six months.
He said the shift from NHIF to SHA is a step towards achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC), one of the government’s key development goals.
“We are implementing a system that is still very new. SHA is just six months old. We must avoid comparing it to a 59-year-old system. Our focus should be on building stability and learning from early challenges,” he said.
Dr. Oluga emphasized the need for inclusive policymaking and stronger communication with the public to build trust in the new health insurance model.
“One of my guiding principles is listening. We need to examine every concern raised and involve all stakeholders to ensure success,” he said.
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