Dr James Wambura NYIKAL is currently a member of the Kenyan Parliament; he is a member of the parliament health commission and of its finance commission. Dr.Nyikal is a Pediatrician /neonatologist and a Medical Scholar by profession, having graduated with a degree in Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery from the University of Nairobi in 1977 and a Masters degree in Pediatrics and child health in 1984, and fellowship in New Born Medicine at Monash Medical Centre in Melbourne Australia in 1992.
During his medical career he served as the Director of Medical Services in the Ministry of Health from 2003 until the restructuring of the Ministry of Health in April 2008. He worked in various government hospitals and private hospitals (including Kenyatta National Hospital, Aga Khan, Nairobi, and M.P Shah among others) prior to his appointment to public service. His scientific research work includes community based control of Leprosy in Yimbo, Siaya district,Kenya,1976,(co-authored); Oral Diazepam in management of Tetanus; Annual Medical Scientific Conference ,Eldoret,Kenya,1984; Social background of Children admitted at the Kenyatta National Hospital with Kwasiokor; M.Med thesis,1984 , among others.
As Director of Medical services, he initiated the preparation and implementation of the Second National Health Sector Strategic Plan which resulted in a drastic improvement of Malaria control, HIV/AIDS control and under five immunization. He also established a process for controlled movement of nurses from Kenya to other countries. From 1997 to 2003 Dr. Nyikal was the Chairman of Medical Association (KMA), and in this position he initiated many innovative programmes, including a Savings Cooperative Society for Doctors, a professional indemnity scheme, a resource centre and the first Antiviral Treatment Training Programme in the country. He mobilized the Medical Association of the East African Countries culminating into the first East African Federation of medical Associations. Ministers of Health of Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania were thus able to hold the First East African Health Ministers meeting in Kenya in 2002, which has resulted into the ongoing efforts to have a single medical curriculum for the region.
He was a member of the executive board of the World Health Organization from 2004 to 2008 where he (together with others) spearheaded a WHO resolution demanding a pro-public health application of intellectual property rights to foster needs-driven medical innovation.
He became the Permanent Secretary Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Development (MGCSD) in October 2008 and occupied the position until he was elected to the Kenyan Parliament.
He is married and has five children.