End corruption at Health Ministry or resign, Kenyans tell Duale

Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale’s mandate requires him to formulate national health policies and guidelines and ensure effective implementation of health programmes and services by counties and various health agencies.

But the CS has made a name in other frontiers, including courting controversy.

Duale has been dismissive of key players in the health sector for questioning his ability to lead the Ministry or trying to hold him accountable over concerns about the effectiveness of Social Health Authority (SHA). The CS brands his critics as cartels and brushes off media for raising concerns, labeling them "gutter press."

However, following recent revelations about massive fraud where bogus health facilities have been paid millions by SHA at the expense of genuine service providers, Kenyans are up in arms against the CS. 

Aware that the CS was bullish against critics, members of the public have taken it upon themselves to respond to Duale through his social media handles, demanding accountability from his Ministry.

Following Duale’s post that termed The Standard Group a gutter press following its headline, The Untouchables, Kenyans on X demanded that the CS focuses on the main issues raised and to stop engaging in side shows.

Duale had posted “The Standard gutter press has now embarked on a retrogressive ethnic profiling. The Kenya health care delivery is undergoing a major transformation under UHC (Taifa care) that is accessible, affordable, equity and quality healthcare for the people, period.”

Kenyans on social media swiftly responded to Duale directing him not to hide under ethnic profiling and to solve the concerns issued by the media houses and other players in the health sector.

Other commentators reacted harshly, telling Duale to address the challenges in the SHA and SHIF as opposed to politicising matters of health. 

“The biggest scam is the Sh104Billion fraud detection system. Start by fixing that one. Also accept that at least NHIF had Field Surveillance Officers and Quality Assurance Officers who could walk around and verify fake hospitals. 1000 of them were fired or redeployed, 10s of SHA branches were closed, @KmpdcOfficial was defunded. Kenya Health Professionals Oversight Authority was neutered. Now The Disputes Resolutions Tribunal was not established. The ICT Directorate at SHA was gutted down and reduced to a mere minor Department and all its functions transferred to APEIRO. Your tough talking fraud fight is lip service all talk and too little action. NESP is also another thing you should look into. Those are the REAL CARTELS,” The Rural and Urban Private Hospitals Association of Kenya (RUPHA) wrote.

“Have you paid interns? The county governments say your statement that UHC staff were absorbed was diversionary from the fact that SHA money has been stolen under your watch. Don't run to ethnicity every time you are asked questions that you can't answer,” wrote Paul Davies. 

Koxi Levi responded to Duale and accused him of trying to dodge accountability from media scrutiny.

“With respect to CS Duale, dismissing The Standard as ‘gutter press’ only dodges accountability. Media scrutiny—whether we like it or not—is part of democracy. Also, UHC (Taifa Care) still faces huge gaps: drug shortages, unpaid medics, and weak facilities. Until those are fixed, we cannot claim accessible, affordable, and quality healthcare is already a reality.”

“If there are no arrests, no prosecution and no reimbursements, then talk to your shadow or the wind bana. We're tired of cheap talk and high sounding but hollow pronouncements," Chris Mung'oma wrote.

Tony Wachira told off the CS and reminded him that accountability was not ethnic profiling adding that "In most jurisdictions, both of you, including the SHA CEO, would have already resigned. Public funds must be safeguarded at all costs, yet this regime remains unbothered, unmoved, and impervious. Nothing seems to bring it to account.”

Three days ago, Duale found himself in the same territory when he posted a Standard front page bearing the headline ‘SHA RIP OFF and dismissed the story as propaganda.

“No amount of propaganda or blackmail will deter us from fixing our healthcare system. We know saboteurs of SHA have recruited several groups including some sections of the media to advance their agenda. Let them be warned: We are fixing this thing regardless of the noise! Our work has just begun. We will not rest until every Kenyan has access to quality, affordable, and dignified healthcare, free from the burden of fraud," Duale wrote.

George Njoroge responded: "With respect, CS, Kenyans are not saboteurs for asking questions. Is it true billions are lost through ghost hospitals? Is it true the KHMFR registry website has been downed? Is it true software costs ballooned from 1B (Sh1 billion) to 104B (Sh10 billion)? Kenyan citizens deserve answers, not warnings.”

Other than talking tough over his critics, Duale has in the recent past threatened to stop advertisements with a section of newspapers. Two weeks ago, he dismissed a question during a presser from a journalist working with the Nation Media Group. 

A cross section of elected leaders has raised serious concerns over the payments of hospitals through the SHA model and demanded that Dual takes responsibility.

Early in the week, a group of lawmakers led by Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna accused Duale of conflict of interest, as he in turn challenged them to produce a CR12 showing his ownership or directorship in any facility.

Duale said he is ready to appear before any parliamentary committee or oversight body to account for every asset he owns.

“My career in public service spans over 20 years, a significant portion of which was spent in the corridors of Parliament in various leadership roles. My record on integrity and declaration of assets is a matter of public record, detailed in the Hansard from my vetting process,” he noted.

 “I challenge any individual to present a CR12 document from the Registrar of Companies that shows my ownership or directorship in the company alleged. I have none. I am ready and willing to present myself before any parliamentary committee or oversight body to account for every asset I own.”

Duale described the concerns raised by MPs, including questions about SHA boss Abdi Mohamed, as a witch-hunt reeking of ethnic profiling.