NAIROBI, Kenya — Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale has sharply rebuked former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua over claims that the government’s Social Health Authority (SHA) is mismanaging funds and on the brink of collapse, escalating a growing political standoff over the country’s new health financing model.
Speaking on Sunday during a Waqf empowerment event hosted by Wajir South MP Mohammed Adow, Duale dismissed Gachagua’s allegations as unfounded and challenged him to make public any evidence of wrongdoing.
“I dare Riggy G to release that dossier tomorrow at 10,” Duale said. “We have paid health facilities across the country — faith-based, private, public — Sh21 billion as of this morning.”
The dispute centres on the operations of the Social Health Authority (SHA), which manages Kenya’s restructured national health insurance framework under the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF).
Gachagua has been a vocal critic of the system, alleging irregularities including phantom claims, fraudulent payouts, and delayed disbursements to hospitals.
During a church service in Ndia Constituency earlier on Sunday, Gachagua claimed that the scheme could collapse within six months and urged private health facilities to push for payment of outstanding dues or consider reverting to upfront billing for patients.
Duale, however, rejected the assertions, insisting that SHA remains fully operational and financially stable. He accused Gachagua of attempting to politicise healthcare and exploit concerns among faith-based and private hospitals for political mileage.
The CS outlined key figures to defend the programme’s performance, stating that over 30.1 million Kenyans have been registered under the scheme, with approximately 12,000 new registrations recorded daily.
He further disclosed that about Sh92.5 billion has been disbursed to support healthcare services across the country. According to Duale, roughly Sh75 billion has been channelled through SHIF, while Sh13 billion has gone toward strengthening primary healthcare.
Additional allocations include Sh3.5 billion for civil servants and teachers under the public officers’ scheme, and about Sh1 billion for emergency, chronic, and critical illness care.
Duale also revealed that the government has mobilised approximately Sh156 billion to sustain the programme, drawn from multiple streams including SHIF contributions, primary healthcare funding, and allocations for specialised care.
As pressure mounts, attention will now turn to whether Gachagua will substantiate his allegations and how the government will continue to address concerns raised by healthcare providers and stakeholders.
For now, the public clash underscores the high political stakes surrounding Kenya’s health reforms, with both sides framing the debate as critical to the future of healthcare delivery in the country.
