Former Kesses MP Swarup Mishra has been handed a state appointment giving him a lifeline after he lost his seat in the August 2022 polls.
Ruto appointed him to serve as chairman of the board of directors of the Biovax Institute for a period of three years with effect from November 22, 2024.
The appointment was done through a gazette notice dated November 22, 2024.
“In exercise of the powers conferred by section 6 (1) (a) of the State Corporations Act, I, William Samoei Ruto, President of the Republic of Kenya and Commander-in-Chief of the Defence Forces, appoint Dr Swarup Ranjan Mishra to be the chairperson of the Board of Directors of Kenya Biovax Institute Limited, for a period of three years, with effect from November 22, 2024,” read the Gazette notice.
Mishra is the proprietor of Mediheal Group of Hospitals and had served for one term as MP for Kesses but lost to newcomer Julius Rutto in the last General Election.
He ran against the grain after he vied as an Independent and was considered as a sympathiser of Azimio side in a region that’s President Ruto’s stronghold.
Mishra, who was known as a big spender on community projects and generous to a fault, had become a household name especially in the Rift Valley region where he was nicknamed “Kiprop” by the Kalenjin community.
But after he lost the seat, his economic fortunes experience turbulance and he has been struggling to save his assets from being auctioned.
Among the assets auctioneers advertising to go under the hammer include the Mediheal Hospital valued at over Sh40 billion.
The hospital has three branches in Eldoret, two in Nairobi and one in Nakuru.
“I leave everything to God,” Mishra said last year as efforts to save his empire appeared to be failing.
He later joined UDA and has of late been declaring his support for President Ruto.
Mishra’s appointment comes amid plans by the Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI) and Kenya BioVax Institute (KBI) to invest more than Sh32 billion in key projects in Eldoret city.
It includes establishment of a vaccine manufacturing plant and a KEMRI facility for clinical trials along with an anti-dropping laboratory.
Kemri Director General Prof Elijah Songok said recently that Uasin Gishu county government has already provided land for the two main projects to be funded by the government and donor agencies.
Mishra’s board will spearhead the key projects.
