Kenya, March 5 -- Principal Secretary (PS) Mary Muthoni is a significant person at Kenya's Ministry of Health. However, she is facing serious accusations about how she manages her job.

Blogger Robert Alai has reported that some people inside the Ministry are worried that her actions are slowing down progress and hurting relationships with partners, donors, and even staff.

Many reports say that PS Muthoni has been accused of going beyond her role and making public statements about topics that should be handled by the Director-General of Health (DG).

Instead of waiting for the right person to give important updates, Muthoni has rushed to speak to the media. Her statements often lack important details and do not address real health issues.

Critics say her comments seem more focused on getting attention for herself rather than solving urgent health problems, which has left the Ministry's leaders trying to manage the confusion.

Another major worry is that PS Muthoni is allegedly using social media to promote herself.

It is reported that she has been hiring people on platforms like Twitter to create positive stories about her leadership. This has caused confusion and worry among staff in the Ministry.

Some believe these actions have created a bad work environment where even junior staff feel pressured by her.

There are also serious claims that PS Muthoni has tried to block the creation of the National Public Health Institute (NPHI), an organization meant to tackle public health issues independently.

Insiders think she fears that this institute would reduce her control over the Ministry's budget, which she is accused of mismanaging for her benefit.

Reports suggest she has asked for bribes from donors and partners who work with the Ministry. In one case, she allegedly requested a bribe from a partner in the Neglected Tropical Diseases sector.

Muthoni is said to have pushed for cuts in funding for community health programs so she could meet her financial demands. Additionally, her way of communicating has raised concerns within the Ministry.

Many have criticized PS Muthoni's statements, saying they lack medical facts and are filled with vague language, which confuses both the public and the Ministry's staff.

As more accusations come forward, the big question remains whether the government will take steps to address the leadership problems in the Ministry of Health and the issues surrounding PS Muthoni's behaviour.

Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Bana Kenya.