Ruto fires ex-MP Swarup Mishra, appoints Githinji as new Kenya Biovax Institute boss

In a gazette notice dated July 4, President Ruto appointed Dr. Charles Githinji as Mishra's replacement. 

Githinji, who previously chaired the Pharmacy and Poisons Board, will now take the helm of BioVax Institute for three years forthwith. 

In Githinji's place, the Head of State appointed Dr. John Munyu to chair PPB for three years. 

"William Samoei Ruto, President of the Republic of Kenya and Commander-in-Chief of the Defence Forces, appoint Charles Githinji to be the Non-Executive Chairperson of the Board of Directors, Kenya Biovax Institute Limited, for a period of three (3) years, with effect from the 4th July, 2025. The appointment of Swarup Ranjan Mishra (Dr.) is revoked," the notice read in part. 

As the new boss of Kenya Biovax Institute, Githinji will be tasked with providing strategic leadership and steering the team towards manufacturing and commercialising specialised health products including vaccines and biomedical products. 

Ruto suspended Mishra as Kenya BioVax Institute boss pending the outcome of investigations over allegations of unethical and illegal activities involving kidney transplant procedures at Mediheal Hospital and Fertility Centre in Eldoret. 

The investigations had unearthed serious gaps in the facility's kidney transplant program, raising concerns about possible organ trafficking involving foreign nationals.

This came after a detailed fact-finding mission by a multidisciplinary team appointed by the Ministry of Health, following an alert from the global Transplantation Society.

Owing to the allegations, Health CS Aden Duale suspended two senior ministry officials and suspended all kidney transplant services at the hospital until further notice to investigate the claims.

He also redirected all patients seeking transplant-related services to attend any of the eight licensed kidney transplant facilities.

These include Kenyatta National Hospital, Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital, Aga Khan University Hospital, MP Shah Hospital, Nairobi Hospital, St Luke's Hospital-Eldoret, Nairobi West Hospital and Mater Hospital.