President Ruto fires Mediheal Hospital founder Swarup Mishra as Kenya Biovax chair, appoints Charles Githinji as successor
The move follows an earlier suspension of Dr Mishra in April this year by the President, amid ongoing investigations into Mediheal Hospital, which he founded. The facility has been accused of unethical practices in its kidney transplant programme.
President William Ruto has dismissed Dr Swarup Ranjan Mishra from his role as non-executive chairperson of the Kenya Biovax Institute Limited and appointed Dr Charles Githinji to take over the position.
In a gazette notice dated July 4, 2025, Ruto announced the revocation of Mishra’s appointment and confirmed Githinji as the new board chair for a three-year term effective immediately.
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“I appoint Charles Githinji (Dr.) to be the Non-Executive Chairperson of the Board of Directors, Kenya Biovax Institute Limited,” the notice read. “The appointment of Swarup Ranjan Mishra (Dr.) is revoked.”
The move follows an earlier suspension of Dr Mishra in April this year by the President, amid ongoing investigations into Mediheal Hospital, which he founded. The facility has been accused of unethical practices in its kidney transplant programme.
Investigators are examining claims that kidneys were harvested from poor Kenyans who were paid Sh294,000 and later sold to foreign recipients for up to Sh3.2 million.
This is not the first time President Ruto has reassigned Githinji to a top health sector role. In January 2023, the President revoked the appointment of Dr James Mandere Rogers Atebe as chairperson of the Pharmacy and Poisons Board and named Dr Githinji as his replacement.
That appointment, announced in a gazette notice dated January 20, 2023, also took immediate effect for three years.
“I, William Samoei Ruto, President and Commander-in-Chief of the Kenya Defence Forces, appoint Charles Githinji (Dr.) to be the Chairperson of the Pharmacy and Poisons Board. The appointment of James Mandere Rogers Atebe (Dr.) is revoked,” the notice read at the time.
The Pharmacy and Poisons Board, established under the Pharmacy and Poisons Act, is Kenya’s drug regulatory authority. It oversees the practice of pharmacy and the manufacture and trade of medicines and poisons.
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