Ruto kicks out Mishra from Biovax Institute, taps Githinji for top post
This development follows Ruto’s earlier decision in April to suspend Dr Mishra from the same position. T
President William Ruto has officially removed Dr Swarup Ranjan Mishra as the non-executive chairperson of the Kenya Biovax Institute and appointed Dr Charles Githinji to take over the role.
The change was announced in a gazette notice dated July 4, 2025, where the President revoked Mishra’s appointment and confirmed Githinji to the position for a term of three years.
“I appoint Charles Githinji (Dr.) to be the Non-Executive Chairperson of the Board of Directors, Kenya Biovax Institute Limited,” stated the notice. “The appointment of Swarup Ranjan Mishra (Dr.) is revoked.”
This development follows Ruto’s earlier decision in April to suspend Dr Mishra from the same position. The suspension came as Mediheal Hospital, which he established, came under serious scrutiny for alleged malpractice and unethical conduct in kidney transplants.
The hospital is being investigated for allegedly harvesting kidneys from vulnerable Kenyans, who are said to have been paid Sh294,000, with the organs reportedly sold to foreign patients for as much as Sh3.2 million.
Authorities are probing allegations that kidneys were harvested from poor Kenyans who were paid Sh294,000 and then sold to foreign patients for up to Sh3.2 million.
This is not the first time President Ruto has picked Githinji for a key health sector post. In January 2023, he revoked the appointment of Dr James Mandere Rogers Atebe as chairperson of the Pharmacy and Poisons Board and appointed Dr Githinji in his place.
That change was also made official through a gazette notice dated January 20, 2023, with a three-year term beginning immediately.
“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 said.
In a related appointment, the President also named Dr John M. Munyu as the new non-executive chairperson of the Pharmacy and Poisons Board. Githinji, who now moves to Biovax, previously held this position.
The Pharmacy and Poisons Board is Kenya’s official drug regulatory body, overseeing the manufacture, sale, and use of medicines and other pharmaceutical products under the Pharmacy and Poisons Act.
