Ruto Fires Ex-MP Swarup Mishra, Appoints Githinji as New Kenya Biovax Institute Chair

 

By Gilbert Mmbaya

 President William Ruto has officially fired former Kesses Member of Parliament Dr. Swarup Ranjan Mishra as the chairperson of the Kenya Biovax Institute, three months after suspending him pending investigations into alleged unethical practices.

In a Gazette Notice dated July 4, 2025, President Ruto appointed Dr. Charles Githinji as the new non-executive chairperson of the Kenya Biovax Institute Board of Directors for a term of three years.

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

Dr. Githinji, a seasoned healthcare professional and public administrator, will now be tasked with steering the state-owned institute toward its core mission of manufacturing and commercializing specialized health products, including vaccines and biomedical solutions.

In a related appointment, President Ruto named Dr. John Munyu as the new chairperson of the Pharmacy and Poisons Board (PPB), replacing Dr. Githinji. Munyu will serve for a three-year term.

Dr. Mishra’s suspension and now dismissal followed a probe into alleged unethical and illegal kidney transplant procedures at Mediheal Hospital and Fertility Centre in Eldoret, which he owns. The investigations, still ongoing, raised serious ethical questions about organ transplant practices in the country.

The Kenya Biovax Institute is a flagship initiative by the Kenyan government aimed at reducing reliance on imported medical supplies and enhancing the country’s ability to respond to public health emergencies through local vaccine and pharmaceutical manufacturing.

Dr. Githinji is expected to provide strategic leadership and restore public confidence in the institution amid ongoing reforms in the health sector.