Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale has come to the defence of Director General for Health, Dr. Patrick Amoth, amid growing concerns over alleged sidelining and underutilisation within the Ministry of Health.
Appearing before the National Assembly’s Departmental Committee on Health on Wednesday, CS Duale firmly refuted claims that Dr. Amoth had been stripped of meaningful responsibilities. He stressed that Dr. Amoth remains the ministry’s lead technical adviser on health matters, a role enshrined in the Health Act.
“When I assumed office at the Ministry of Health 36 days ago, I reviewed Sections 16 and 17 of the Health Act and discovered that the office of the Director General was not being utilised optimally,” said Duale.
To address this, Duale revealed that he held a meeting with all ministry directors and Principal Secretaries to clarify the chain of command. “I made it clear that the DG is the technical head of all directorates and divisions in the ministry,” he said, emphasising that his actions were based on legal mandates rather than personal preferences.
The CS pointed out that the ministry has clearly defined roles, with each official expected to operate within the scope of their appointment. “Some people have been made to believe that the DG has no meaningful role in the ministry. That is false,” he asserted. “Everyone in that ministry, including myself, holds an appointment with defined roles.”
Duale also clarified the division of responsibilities within the ministry, stating that while he focuses on policy leadership, budgetary and operational matters fall under the purview of Medical Services Principal Secretary Dr. Ouma Oluga and other senior officials.
Dr. Amoth, who has held the position since 2018, was a key figure in Kenya’s COVID-19 response and is widely respected for his expertise. His apparent marginalisation had sparked public concern and debate within health sector circles.
Duale’s reaffirmation of Dr. Amoth’s role appears aimed at restoring internal cohesion and ensuring that the ministry operates effectively, with each leader functioning within their legally defined roles to deliver on Kenya’s health agenda.
