The Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) is in one of its most serious internal crises yet after staff at the Ministry of Livestock accused Acting CEO Emily Muema of harassment, intimidation, poor leadership, and misuse of authority, claims now amplified by a controversial late-night crash involving an official VMD vehicle. Emily Muema, the Acting CEO of Kenya's Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD)
According to a strongly worded letter dated February 27 this year, officers described deep frustration over what they termed unfair deployments, lack of consultation, denial of allowances, and favoritism in staff postings.
The officers said the Veterinary Medicines Directorate is a public institution established to serve Kenyans under the legal framework of the country, but said recent management decisions had ignored professionalism, staff welfare, and proper administrative procedures. Staff Protest Over Deployments The officers, who identified themselves as newly recruited veterinary professionals referred to as Gen-Z staff, said they were abruptly transferred to new stations together with drivers without consultation or consideration of their qualifications, strengths, or areas of specialization.
They said they were “dumped like cabbages in a sack” and issued deployment letters without being given room for appeal.
The letter further stated that management consulted non-veterinary professionals during the deployment process instead of engaging qualified veterinary officers. Claims Against Emmanuel Opagla The staff also singled out Emmanuel Opagla, accusing him of wielding excessive influence within the institution.
According to the officers, Opagla had become the Acting CEO’s chief adviser and was said to be moving through offices monitoring staff “like prisoners.”
They further said that, although an accountant, he was interfering in technical veterinary operations, determining transport arrangements, controlling field logistics, and frustrating other departments such as procurement.
The staff said management had empowered him at the expense of trained veterinary professionals. VMD Chairperson Dr Ningala Kalachu, Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe, Acting CEO Dr Emily Muema and Vice Chairperson Elloy Otieno during the signing of the 2025/2026 performance contract on April 8, 2026 in Mombasa. Allowances and Welfare Issues Another major issue cited was the denial of deployment allowances.
The officers stated that many had already settled in Nairobi, purchased household items, and established homes after serving at VMD for more than six months.
They said the transfers were renamed as “deployments” to avoid payment of relocation benefits.
They questioned how they were expected to move belongings to distant stations without baggage allowances and criticised management for recruiting officers before securing office space for them.
The letter also stated that some officers were sent to search for office space themselves and report back without any facilitation. Bias and Tribal Favoritism Claims The staff further accused leadership of bias in postings, saying favored associates were retained in Nairobi while perceived opponents were transferred out.
They also pointed to what they described as tribal favoritism, questioning how members of one community remained in Nairobi because of personal connections. Vote of No Confidence In their closing remarks, the officers declared they had lost confidence in the current leadership, saying they no longer wanted the Acting CEO and were prepared to continue petitioning other government offices for intervention.
They signed off as: “Your Gen-Z VMD deployed vets as you call us. God help VMD.”
The letter was copied to the Chairperson and Board Members of VMD. View document Midnight Crash of Official CEO Vehicle Sparks Fresh Questions The leadership row has intensified after an official VMD vehicle assigned to the Acting CEO was involved in a serious road accident late at night on a public holiday.
The accident, involving Motor Vehicle Registration KDT 610Z (Ford Everest), was officially reported on 20th March 2026 at 10:45 hours midnight. Official Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) Ford Everest vehicle (registration KDT 610Z) shown damaged after a road crash, with visible impact on the front section including a crushed bonnet, deployed airbag, and broken headlights.
The crash occurred along Waiyaki Way near Uthiru in Nairobi County under light drizzle and reduced visibility. Driver and Accident Details The VMD vehicle was traveling towards Kikuyu when a Super Metro Sacco Isuzu NPR (KDS 042V) changed lanes abruptly and stopped suddenly, leading to a rear-end collision.
Police responded to the scene, and the driver was detained at Kabete Police Station before later being released on bond.
No fatalities or injuries were reported. Extent of Damage The detailed police report states the Ford Everest suffered major damage such as:
• Airbag deployment and dashboard destruction • Radiator damage • Air conditioning condenser damage • Front bumper destruction • Bonnet heavily dented • Side mirrors destroyed
The vehicle was declared unserviceable, exposing the Directorate to financial loss.
An additional amount of money was incurred for towing charges. Bigger Picture for VMD The combination of staff unrest, intimidation claims, deployment disputes, and the midnight crash of an official vehicle has now placed the Veterinary Medicines Directorate in the public eye.
With serious questions over leadership, accountability, staff morale, and asset management, pressure is likely to mount for transparent investigations and corrective action.