Former Murang’a Senator Kembi Gitura has resigned from the board of the Kenyatta University Teaching, Referral and Research Hospital (KUTRRH), bringing his tenure at the institution to an abrupt end.
Details of his resignation remain unclear, with the Ministry of Health yet to issue a formal statement on the matter or to announce who will succeed him on the hospital’s board.
Gitura, a lawyer and seasoned public servant, was appointed to chair the KUTRRH board in December 2024, following a nomination by President William Ruto earlier that year. His term was set to run for three years, but his exit now leaves a leadership gap at one of the country’s premier referral hospitals.
The former senator’s tenure at KUTRRH was part of wider government efforts to strengthen governance in health institutions. The 650-bed facility, located along the Northern Bypass in Kiambu County, plays a critical role in providing specialized care, advancing medical research, and training health professionals. It also eases the burden on Kenyatta National Hospital, the country’s oldest referral facility.
Gitura’s resignation adds to a long and varied public service career spanning politics, diplomacy, and leadership in key state agencies. He first came to national prominence in 2013 when he was elected Murang’a County’s first senator under the Jubilee Party, later serving as Deputy Speaker in the Eleventh Parliament.
In 2017, he unsuccessfully contested the Murang’a gubernatorial seat but continued to serve in other public roles. His appointments have included chairing the Communications Authority of Kenya and the Kenya Medical Supplies Authority (KEMSA), as well as serving as Kenya’s Ambassador to Belgium, Luxembourg, and the European Union.
His departure from KUTRRH comes at a time when the hospital is strengthening its role as a center of excellence in healthcare delivery and research. The next appointment to the board will be closely watched, given the strategic importance of the institution in Kenya’s health sector.
