Gaucho reacts after Mama Lucy board nomination draws public backlash

Nairobi County has appointed Calvince Okoth, popularly known as Gaucho, to the board of management of Mama Lucy Kibaki Hospital, a move that has drawn sharp criticism from residents who say the post should go to someone with a background in health or administration.

The appointment was made under Gazette Notice No. 5733 by the County Executive Committee Member for Health and Sanitation, pursuant to the Facilities Improvement Financing Act (Cap. 277).

It takes effect from April 16, 2026, for a three-year term.

Gaucho joins the board as a member alongside five other newly appointed officials.

Dr Elvis Meli will serve as chairperson.

The remaining members are Dr Chama Nzai, Susan Wanjiru Kamau, Knight Medza Kaingu, Abdalla Ali, and Gaucho.

Mama Lucy Kibaki Hospital is a Level 5 public referral facility located in Eastlands, Nairobi.

It serves an estimated 2.25 million people and attends to more than 2,000 patients daily, making it one of the busiest public hospitals in the county.

According to him, Calvince Okoth earned the nickname Gaucho in 2007 for his football skills, after Ronaldinho Gaucho.

Born in Rongo, Migori County, he dropped out of school in Class Six, and later moved to Nairobi where he lived in several informal settlements including Korogocho and Dandora.

He is the former president of the Bunge la Mwananchi Movement, a grassroots civic organisation, and rose to national prominence during the 2023 cost-of-living protests.

The new board takes over at a time of heightened scrutiny of the facility.

In February 2026, Embakasi East MP Babu Owino publicly alleged that mothers were giving birth on the floor at Mama Lucy, claims the outgoing board dismissed as misleading and inaccurate.

Separately, the hospital maintained operations during the early 2026 doctors' strike, with management confirming services continued under contingency staffing.

Residents and leaders in Eastlands have long pushed for better equipment, consistent drug supply, and improved conditions at the facility.

The reaction online to Gaucho's inclusion on the board has been largely critical, with many questioning what value he brings to a health governance role.

Some described the appointment as a political reward tied to his close association with Governor Johnson Sakaja and the broader government.

Others raised his educational background as a reason the pick was unsuitable for a hospital board.

A smaller section of commenters argued that lived experience from informal settlements is a relevant qualification for overseeing a facility that primarily serves low-income communities, and that the board's technical functions can be handled by the professionals on the panel.

In a statement on April 19, 2026, Gaucho expressed gratitude to Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja and President William Ruto for the appointment, and credited the late ODM leader Raila Odinga's family for their long-standing support.

He also acknowledged Raila Odinga's role, saying the veteran politician had promised to advocate for him to the President three years prior.

He dedicated the appointment to youth from informal settlements, framing his inclusion as proof that people from such backgrounds can access positions of influence.