Kenya ’ s ability to remain productive , make huge economic gains and provide its citizens reasonable standards of living is dependent on how it governs the health sector especially during this Covid-19 pandemic . The pandemic has upended peoples ’ ways of life , greatly exposing loopholes in research and reprioritization of investment in both local and global healthcare systems . The level of preparedness in managing the pandemic , stem from leadership structures that have been put under the test . Global health goals like Universal Health Coverage ( UHC ) have been shaken to the core as many households globally have been plunged into health shocks resulting from the effects of the deadly disease .

Though shaken by the global pandemic , Kenya is on the right track to achieving global health goals , if it takes a deliberate effort to re-look at its leadership and governance structures in the healthcare system . For instance , Kenya unlike most countries in the world has attained the constitutional right to health as a fundamental human right . From this , the sector has witnessed the formulation of a number of national health strategies focusing on investments towards upgrading healthcare facilities , to enhancing service provision and access . A major development has been the abolition of user fees at primary healthcare facilities in 2013 to encourage uptake of services .

However , access to healthcare is out of reach to many , largely compounded by out of pocket expenses and the fact that the right to health is not yet supported by legislation . The only legal provision closer to this is the one that states , no Kenyan shall be denied right from treatment in any private healthcare facility . To enable this work , we need to look at governance at all levels across the public and private healthcare sectors . A major emphasis should be on the people selected to head health institutions . They should be good enough to craft very clear and constructive pathways that will allow seamless execution of life-changing strategies .

It is worth noting that most healthcare institutions in Kenya do not lack good strategies but clear governance structures linking those strategies to actual execution . When we have the right people leading and guiding the execution of these strategies , we will start realizing positive results in terms of among others customer ' s satisfaction and increase in uptake of services , key indicators towards universal access .

With good governance structures in place , resources would be more appropriately assigned , and developed in adequate numbers and utilized productively not just now but also in the future . Having the right mix of leaders and a better leadership structure is therefore now more critical than ever to ensure the country stays on course and delivers healthy lives and promotes the well-being of all citizens at all ages by the year 2030 as manifested in sustainable development goal number 3 which ensures healthy lives and promotes well-being for all .

Marketing Africa crew had a candid chat with Mr . Gordon Otieno Odundo , an Independent Consultant at KWE Business Advisory Services and a seasoned corporate leader on an array of issues touching on the role of corporate governance in driving business success and shares the excerpts here-under .

You worked in Government as a clerk for your first job , then went to Hospitality industry , before staking your head out in the Healthcare terrain . How would you summarize your experience across these sectors and what key learnings have you banked ?

Very few leaders who attain top leadership positions work their way from the bottom and my own experience working in government at the lowest levels serving all cadres of the public as well as more than 15 years in the hospitality industry enabled me to understand and communicate across the organizations I worked in . This allows you to sell strategy , get buy in for change initiatives and most importantly have a customer centric approach to business .

You are a high flying super highway operative , how are you copping now that you are off the high octane chambers that define the corporate world ?

I have been in leadership positions for 31 years and have worked say 33 years and in many instances had 16-18 hours working days including Saturdays and Sundays . The present time has been of self-reflection , catching up with friends , reading , sharing my knowledge and experiences as well as taking up many social and philanthropic roles which previously I would not have had time for . With the advent of Covid-19 its been easier to keep fit and I am hoping to achieve 365 days of daily exercise feat .

You have stated in some of your opinion pieces that Covid-19 pandemic has shown that Kenya is not adequately prepared to

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Corporate Governance As A Driver Of Business Success : Gordon Otieno Odundo