Editor's Review

"I am a twin."

Health Cabinet Secretary nominee Dr. Debra Barasa has disclosed that she is a wife, a mother of four children and a twin.

Appearing before the vetting committee in Parliament on Thursday, August 1, Barasa noted that her net worth was Sh455 million, which she said was combined with that of her husband.

The cabinet nominee further stated that she is a qualified medical doctor with 18 years of experience in the medical field.

"I am a qualified medical doctor with more than 18 years medical expertise and public health professional background. I am a wife, a mother of four lovely children and also a twin. I have a vast experience in terms of policy advice, strategic direction, technical advice and clinical practice," Barasa explained. 

She further revealed that she has worked with the public and private sectors from the primary care level up to the national level at the Kenyatta National Hospital.

National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang'ula chairing the vetting committee.

At the same time, Barasa disclosed that she has been working with several Health Ministry focal points in the Eastern and Southern Africa region, which covers 22 countries, as well as the World Health Organization (WHO), to support their infection prevention and control (IPC) programmes.

"In WHO, I worked for more than four years supporting various member states in strengthening their infection prevention and control (IPC) programmes. I supported them in matters of policy advice in strategic direction and technical advice," Barasa remarked.

In addition, the Cabinet nominee indicated that she has been involved in global strategies and action plans, as well as the development of guidelines at the global level.

If approved by Parliament, Barasa will take over from Susan Nakhumicha.

She holds a Master of Medicine in Internal Medicine from the University of Nairobi.