Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale has reaffirmed his commitment to delivering Universal Health Coverage (UHC) despite intensifying calls for his resignation over alleged fraud at the Social Health Authority (SHA).
In a cryptic post on X (formerly Twitter), Duale dismissed critics, stating, “Dirty water does not stop a plant from growing. So don’t let negative words stop your progress.” The message underscored his determination to push forward with reforms in Kenya’s health sector, even as political pressure mounts.
The SHA, which replaced the long-controversial National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF), forms a cornerstone of the government’s push to ensure equitable access to healthcare. President William Ruto has publicly defended the initiative, attributing recent reports of irregularities not to new corruption but to the digital system’s ability to expose long-standing anomalies.
Speaking on Sunday at St. Peter’s ACK Cathedral in Siaya, Ruto emphasized, “The system we have introduced is exposing issues that have been ongoing for years. People think there is new corruption—no, the difference is that the new system can detect it.” He further assured that anyone found guilty of fraudulent activities within the SHA would face prosecution and be required to refund misappropriated funds.
Despite presidential backing, opposition to Duale is intensifying in Parliament. Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna, representing the Kenya Moja coalition, stated that lawmakers have “the signatures ready” to table a motion for Duale’s impeachment, holding him politically accountable for alleged theft of taxpayers’ money. Critics warn that systemic corruption, payments to ghost health facilities, and fictitious claims threaten the stability of the health sector.
Nevertheless, Duale remains resolute. In internal communications shared with key stakeholders last week, he reiterated, “The Ministry is fully focused on delivering Universal Health Coverage. We will not be distracted.”
As the political and public scrutiny grows, the Health CS appears determined to weather the storm, framing the controversies as challenges inherent in implementing transformative reforms. The coming weeks will test both his leadership and the government’s resolve in pursuing accountability while maintaining momentum toward universal healthcare access.
