Cornered Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale has gone on the offensive, accusing Standard Media Group of orchestrating a smear campaign against the government’s flagship Social Health Authority (SHA) reforms.
On Monday, August 25, Duale sharply criticised the media house over its front-page headline “SHA rip off,” dismissing it as propaganda meant to derail crucial health sector changes. The Cabinet Secretary accused a section of the media of teaming up with entrenched cartels to sabotage reforms aimed at dismantling fraud in Kenya’s healthcare system.
Duale’s remarks come at a tense moment, with the SHA battling accusations of financial irregularities even as the government uncovers billions in fraudulent health claims.
Standard Media Under Fire as Duale Rages Over SHA Rip-Off Report
Duale’s statement was not just a rebuttal but a full-frontal attack on Standard Media, which published claims suggesting politically connected hospitals had received inflated SHA payouts.
According to Duale, such reporting is part of a deliberate scheme to “blackmail and mislead Kenyans” about the reforms. He stressed that his ministry will not be swayed by what he termed propaganda campaigns meant to defend corrupt interests.
“No amount of propaganda or blackmail will deter us from fixing our healthcare system,” he declared. “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.”
Duale doubled down on his commitment, promising that the SHA will deliver affordable, quality and dignified healthcare to every Kenyan, despite resistance from those he accuses of benefitting from fraud.
Billions in Fraudulent Claims Uncovered
The confrontation with Standard Media came just hours after Duale himself revealed shocking details of fraud within the health system.
He disclosed that claims worth Ksh5.1 billion submitted to the SHA are currently under re-evaluation and investigation. In addition, another Ksh10 billion worth of claims had already been rejected outright due to rampant fraudulent practices.
These schemes, Duale said, involved upcoding, falsification of medical records and billing for ghost patients. The revelations added a dramatic twist to his clash with the press, raising questions about whether media coverage was exposing genuine rot or shielding corrupt networks now under siege.
Reform Battle Lines Drawn
The “Duale SHA Rip Off” showdown highlights the broader political and financial battles surrounding Kenya’s attempt to overhaul its troubled health sector.
The SHA was created to streamline insurance, end waste and protect ordinary Kenyans from medical exploitation. Yet from the moment it launched, the authority has faced resistance from both health providers and political actors with vested interests.
By taking aim at Standard Media, Duale has framed the war over SHA not just as a fight against fraud, but also a war against powerful institutions capable of shaping public opinion. Whether his defiance will strengthen public trust or deepen skepticism remains uncertain, but one thing is clear—the battle for Kenya’s healthcare reforms has only just begun.
