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Dr. Deborah Barasa faced a significant hurdle in a swift turn of events following her nomination for the position of Health Cabinet Secretary by President William Ruto.
Social media users, eager to know more about her, uncovered that Dr. Barasa had been removed from the Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Council (KMPDC) register due to an unpaid debt.
This revelation prompted a flurry of questions and concerns from the public about her suitability for the role.
Dr. Barasa, a respected medical professional, found herself in a precarious position when it was revealed that she had been deregistered in April 2019 for non-compliance with Section 14 of the Medical Practitioners and Dentists Act.
This section of the Act requires medical practitioners to renew their licenses annually and to do so at least thirty days before the expiry of the current license. Failure to renew on time incurs a late fee, which must be paid along with the renewal fee.
The debt in question amounted to Sh80,050, which Dr. Barasa had accrued over time. This situation came to light when a social media user tweeted a screenshot of the list of deregistered doctors, which included Dr. Barasa’s name.
The tweet quickly gained traction, with many Kenyans expressing their astonishment that a nominee for such a high-profile position had been deregistered by the KMPDC.
The incident raised serious questions about the vetting process for such crucial appointments. Many Kenyans on social media wondered how President Ruto could nominate someone with a questionable professional standing and whether adequate background checks had been conducted.
Barasa is an infectious disease expert and has more than 18 years of experience in the healthcare industry and health programmes, she is an Internal Medicine physician and infectious Disease Expert at the World Health Organization.
In response to the growing public interest, the Nation attempted to contact KMPDC for clarification.
Despite multiple attempts to reach Dr. David Kariuki, the CEO of KMPDC, there was no response. However, a senior board member, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed that Dr. Barasa had been removed from the register due to her unpaid fees.
The nominee establishes sustainable programmes in Eastern Southern Africa, supports member states in developing and implementing national action plans, and offers technical guidance on global policies and guidelines.
The board member emphasized that the council would not waive the fee and that Dr. Barasa needed to pay the outstanding amount to be reinstated.
“Doctors who transition into research sometimes default on these payments,” the board member explained. “We will only put her back on the register as soon as she pays up because she was removed in compliance with Section 14 of The Medical Practitioners and Dentists Act.”
Faced with the urgency of the situation and the potential impact on her nomination, Dr. Barasa took immediate action to resolve the issue.
She has a Masters of Medicine in Internal Medicine from the University of Nairobi (Sept 2012 - Dec 2017). Barasa also has Masters in Infectious Diseases from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (Ongoing)
By 6:43 PM on Friday, she had managed to raise the required Sh80,050 and made the payment to the KMPDC.
The senior board member confirmed to the Nation that her payment had been received and that her name would be reinstated in the register within the hour.
True to their word, by 7:43 PM, the KMPDC’s online register had been updated. Dr. Barasa’s name was once again listed, showing that she was licensed to practice as a specialist in internal medicine for the year 2024.
The updated entry read: “DEBORAH MLONGO BARASA with registration number A6**5 stationed in NAIROBI is licensed to practice as a specialist in INTERNAL MEDICINE for 2024.”
The resolution of this issue was a relief for Dr. Barasa, but it also highlighted the challenges and scrutiny that come with public service.
This incident underscored the importance of maintaining compliance with professional regulations, even for those who may transition into different roles within their careers.
Her core competencies include Internal Medicine/Infectious disease; communicable and non-communicable disease prevention and control for clinical cases and public health programmes. If approved by the National Assembly vetting panel, Barasa will be joining the ministry at a time when it has had issues with intern doctors among others.
The public reaction to Dr. Barasa’s situation was mixed. While some expressed sympathy, understanding that oversights can happen, others were critical, arguing that such lapses should not occur for someone being considered for a top government position.
For Dr. Barasa, the experience was undoubtedly a stressful one. However, it also provided an opportunity to demonstrate her commitment to rectifying mistakes and ensuring compliance with professional standards.
With her debt settled and her license restored, Dr. Barasa can now focus on the confirmation process and preparing for her potential future role as Health Cabinet Secretary.
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