Dr. James Wambura Nyikal (born 22 June 1951) is a distinguished Kenyan medical doctor, public health technocrat, and politician. He has served as the Member of Parliament for Seme Constituency in Kisumu County since 2013, becoming the first person to hold the seat following the establishment of the constituency under the 2010 Constitution of Kenya. A member of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), Dr. Nyikal is widely regarded for his extensive professional background in medicine and public policy, which has heavily influenced his legislative priorities in the National Assembly. Born in Kisumu, Dr. Nyikal began his early education at Ngere Primary School, where he sat for his Certificate of Primary Education in 1966. He subsequently attended Onjiko Secondary School for his 'O' levels before proceeding to Nakuru High School for his 'A' levels. Demonstrating an early aptitude for the sciences, he was admitted to the University of Nairobi in 1972, where he pursued a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBChB), graduating in 1977. He later specialized in paediatrics, earning a Master of Medicine in Paediatrics and Child Health from the same institution, where he studied from 1981 to 1994. Furthering his expertise, he completed a fellowship in newborn medicine at the Monash Medical Centre in Australia between 1990 and 1992. Dr. Nyikal’s professional medical career spans several decades of service within the public and academic sectors. His early career included stints as a medical officer at Homa Bay District Hospital (1978–1980) and service at Kenyatta National Hospital. In the 1990s, he transitioned into academia, serving as a lecturer in the Department of Paediatrics and Child Health at the University of Nairobi. His leadership capabilities were further recognized when he was elected Chairperson of the Kenya Medical Association, a position he held from 1997 to 2003. This professional prominence paved the way for his entry into senior government administration. From 2003 to 2008, he served as the Director of Medical Services in the Ministry of Health, a role that positioned him at the heart of Kenya’s public health policy formulation. Following this, he held the position of Permanent Secretary, first at the Ministry of Public Health and Sanitation in 2008, and subsequently at the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Development from 2008 to 2012. During his time in government, he also served on the executive board of the World Health Organization. In 2013, Dr. Nyikal transitioned into elective politics, successfully vying for the Seme Constituency seat on an ODM ticket. He has since secured re-election in the 2017 and 2022 general elections, cementing his status as a key political figure in Kisumu County. Throughout his tenure in the National Assembly, he has leveraged his medical background to drive health sector reforms. He has been a frequent contributor to parliamentary debates regarding maternal mortality, universal health coverage, and anti-corruption measures within health financing institutions such as the National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF) and the Social Health Authority (SHA). In recognition of his focus on healthcare policy, Dr. Nyikal has chaired and served on various legislative committees, most notably the Departmental Committee on Health. His leadership in this committee has placed him at the center of critical parliamentary inquiries into health sector management, including oversight on health procurement and institutional accountability. Despite the political pressures inherent in his role, he remains a vocal advocate for strengthening public healthcare systems, often emphasizing the necessity of separating administrative accountability from the operational needs of health facilities. Dr. Nyikal continues to be a prominent voice in Kenyan parliamentary proceedings, bridging the gap between clinical expertise and legislative oversight.