SENIOR GOVERNMENT OFFICIAL DIES IN NAIROBI

Senior government official has died. Kisumu Health executive Boaz Nyunya, 65, is dead.

According to Governor Anyan’g Nyong’o, the CEC died at a Nairobi hospital on Thursday morning.

He said Nyunya died following a short illness.

“It is with deep shock and sorrow that I announce the death of my Executive Committee Member for Health and Sanitation, Prof Boaz Otieno Nyunya,” he said.

Nyunya was an experienced medic, researcher and scholar.

Nyong’o said Nyunya has been the epitome of professionalism and hard work.

“He was stoic and determined in the delivery of his mandate as the person charged with the task of rebranding Kisumu’s health care,” Nyong’o said.

During his stint at the department, he said Nyunya created a brand for exemplary services.

“At the Cabinet, he kept us on our toes with detailed and accurate delivery of Covid-19 reports and mitigation measures in the country,” he said.

Nyong’o noted that the CEC, his Chief Officer, Dr Gregory Ganda and the CEO of Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital, Dr George Rae, had in the past few months firmly embarked on the massive overhaul of the county’s health system.

“We will remember him for driving the Kisumu Marwa Health Insurance Scheme which targets the vulnerable families ,” Nyong’o said.

The governor noted that besides being his boss, he had known Prof Nyunya and his close family members for many years.

“I was in primary school and college with his brothers,” he said.

The CEC lectured at Moi University, worked at the Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital and the CDC, before joining the Kisumu county government in July 2020.

Nyong’o said that as a county, Kisumu has lost a worker and a team player who instilled visionary leadership and gave real direction to the department; giving real meaning to quality healthcare provision.

“On behalf of the County Government of Kisumu, I send my heartfelt condolence to the family, friends and Professional colleagues,” he said

Nyong’o, appointed the former Moi University don as the County Executive Committee (CEC) Member for Health in July 2020.

He was a long serving Associate Professor at Moi University School of Health Sciences.

At the time of his appointment he was also the Associate Director for Programs at the Western Kenya Centre for Disease Control (CDC).

He was Consultant Obstetrician-Gynecologist and Public Health practitioner, researcher, leader in Reproductive Health, educationist and program specialist.

He took over from Prof Miguda Attyang, who was transferred to the Cooperatives docket during changes.

He took over the health docket amid the Covid -19 pandemic and the persistent unrest among health workers in the county.

Sourced from The Star