In a recent interview on Citizen TV’s JKLive, Aden Duale addressed mounting controversy surrounding the Social Health Authority (SHA), following reports of Ksh 11 billion lost to fraudulent claims and fake surgeries.
Despite public calls for accountability and demands for his resignation, Duale stated firmly that he has no intention of stepping down voluntarily.
He emphasized that resignation is not the only route for accountability and highlighted Parliament’s power to impeach ministers as the legitimate procedure.
Duale acknowledged the deep-seated corruption at Afya House, initially dubbed the “Mafia House,” admitting that even three weeks on the job revealed entrenched rot.
He described the transition from the defunct NHIF to the SHA as inherently vulnerable to exploitation by cartels.
The Health CS underscored that the ministry has already rejected Ksh 11.6 billion in fraudulent claims and is actively working to recover Ksh 1.8 billion that was improperly disbursed.
Measures include withdrawing authorization rights from 50 suspected medics and targeting specific facilities implicated in the scheme.
Duale framed his actions as part of a broader institutional cleanup, focusing on systemic reform rather than personal surrender.
His stance suggests a determination to confront corruption directly, betting his political future on being the reformer who cleans the house rather than abandoning it amid scandal.
Observers note that Duale’s defiance could either bolster public confidence in reform efforts or intensify scrutiny of the ministry’s management of SHA funds as Kenya continues to grapple with systemic healthcare corruption.
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