Kenya’s health sector has been thrown into chaos after a section of lawmakers under the Kenya Moja movement issued a 48-hour ultimatum to Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale.
The legislators, led by Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna, cited the Social Health Authority’s (SHA) multi-billion-shilling payment scandals as the reason for their demand. They accused Duale of being at the center of fraudulent dealings involving ghost hospitals, phantom billing, and irregular disbursements.
If Duale fails to step down, the leaders have threatened to initiate an impeachment motion against him.
SHA Payment Scandals Put CS Duale on the Spot
The pressure on Duale intensified on August 27, 2025, when Kenya Moja leaders gathered in Nairobi and declared that the country’s health system was bleeding due to corruption at SHA. The leaders accused Duale of not only failing to protect public funds but also of being an active participant in the fraud.
The group demanded the immediate resignation of both SHA chair Abdi Mohammed and CEO Mercy Mwangangi. They alleged that the two officials, alongside Duale, had presided over a system riddled with illegal payments and conflicts of interest.
Tonny Kibagendi, the outspoken MP for Kitutu Chache South, warned that if Duale defied the ultimatum, impeachment proceedings would begin without hesitation. “The chief architects of this scheme are Honourable Duale and the people at State House,” Kibagendi declared. “Duale and his associates, and the surrogates at State House, should not try to hoodwink Kenyans.”
This statement signaled a direct political confrontation between the Kenya Moja movement and the government, framing the scandal as a battle over accountability in the health sector.
Allegations of a Cover-Up
The SHA payment scandals have taken a darker turn following revelations that the public portal for tracking payments and hospital claims was abruptly pulled down. The Kenya Master Health Facility Registry (KMHFR), which was supposed to enhance transparency, suddenly went offline, raising questions of a deliberate cover-up.
This move fueled suspicions that the Ministry of Health was hiding damning information. Critics argue that taking down the portal undermines efforts to trace irregular disbursements and exposes the extent to which corruption networks may have infiltrated the Authority.
For Kenyans, who are already burdened by a struggling healthcare system, the idea that billions meant for medical services were funneled into ghost facilities is not only outrageous but also a betrayal of public trust. The scandal has further eroded confidence in government pledges to deliver universal healthcare.
Duale’s Defense and the Political Fallout
Despite the uproar, Duale has insisted that he is the whistleblower, not the mastermind. On August 26, just a day before the ultimatum, he announced a major crackdown on fraudulent claims within SHA. He revealed that claims worth Ksh10.6 billion had been rejected after investigations uncovered falsified records, phantom billing, and fabricated patient admissions.
Duale painted himself as a reformist under siege, claiming that vested interests were using the media and political surrogates to discredit him. “A well-orchestrated scheme is at play to water down the government’s efforts to reform the health sector,” he said.
However, Kenya Moja legislators remain unconvinced. They argue that Duale cannot distance himself from a rot that took root under his leadership. They maintain that even if he uncovered fraud, it was his failure to prevent it in the first place that makes him unfit to remain in office.
The standoff now threatens to evolve into a constitutional showdown. Should Kenya Moja proceed with impeachment, the process will not only test the resilience of President William Ruto’s government but also expose the depth of divisions within Kenya’s political elite.
Conclusion
The SHA payment scandals have become a flashpoint in Kenya’s governance crisis. For the Kenya Moja group, the fight is about accountability and ensuring that taxpayer money is not lost in fraudulent schemes. For Duale, the battle is about survival and clearing his name in a storm that could end his political career.
As the clock ticks on the 48-hour ultimatum, Kenyans are left watching whether the Health CS will bow to pressure or whether the country is headed for yet another bruising political confrontation that could shake the foundations of the health ministry.
