In what appears to be an open contravention of the conflict of interest, fresh reports by a local publication on September 26 revealed that, Mwende Gatabaki, wife of President Ruto’s top economic advisor David Ndii, is at the centre of a Sh105 billion healthcare contract that has raised eyebrows due to her close ties to the current administration.
The project, the Integrated Healthcare Information Technology System (IHTS), is part of the Universal Health Coverage (UHC) initiative aimed at providing affordable healthcare to all Kenyans.
Gatabaki, a seasoned IT expert, holds a directorial position in Konvergenz Network Solutions, a company chosen alongside Safaricom to implement the ambitious healthcare project.
President William Ruto’s economic advisor Dr. David Ndii gestures during a past media presser. Photo: Citizen Digital Source: Facebook
The deal has sparked controversy, with many questioning whether her family’s influence within the government played a role in securing the lucrative contract.
Her husband, David Ndii, serves as a key economic strategist for President Ruto, and their proximity to the centre of power has not gone unnoticed.
The first phase of the project, valued at Sh14.8 billion, places Gatabaki at the helm of transforming the healthcare sector through technology.
Critics argue that her involvement is not coincidental, pointing out the changes in Konvergenz Network Solutions’ ownership structure shortly before the contract was awarded.
The firm’s complex restructuring has made it difficult to trace its beneficial owners, raising further suspicions about the power dynamics at play.
Despite the scrutiny, Gatabaki and her associates insist their involvement is above board. Legal records show Konvergenz had received advice from Dentons Hamilton Harrison & Mathews (HHM), a firm with links to President Ruto’s son, adding to the perception of favouritism.
With Gatabaki’s firm set to benefit massively from the UHC contract, her rise to prominence has been seen by some as a clear example of how power connections can open doors to billion-shilling opportunities.
