NAIROBI, Kenya — Controversial prophet David Owuor has hit back at Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale over claims that he travelled abroad for knee surgery, despite publicly asserting he performs healing miracles.
In a strongly worded statement issued Thursday, Owuor dismissed Duale’s remarks as false, unverified, and misleading, saying they misrepresented his recent travel and ministry activities.
“The Ministry of Repentance and Holiness strongly refutes recent public remarks attributed to CS Aden Duale regarding Prophet Dr. David Owuor,” the statement said.
“The statements suggesting that the prophet of the Lord underwent medical procedures as alleged are false, unverified, and misleading.”
Duale had made the comments on Wednesday night during an interview on Citizen TV, where he questioned why Owuor claimed to heal the sick while allegedly seeking medical treatment abroad. The Health CS warned that unverified miracle claims could endanger lives, drawing parallels to the 2022 Shakahola tragedy.
Owuor clarified that his recent travel, which Duale referenced, was for what he termed an official international mission in Europe, where he said he conducted revival meetings and ministry engagements focused on repentance and holiness.
“At the time being referenced, Prophet Owuor was on an official international mission in Europe, holding revival meetings and faithfully carrying out ministry work,” the statement said, adding that he has since returned to Kenya.
The prophet also criticised the circulation of what he termed inaccurate claims presented as fact and urged political leaders, commentators, and the media to exercise responsibility when addressing matters of faith and spiritual leadership.
“Our ministry gatherings are centred on prayer, repentance, and faith in Jesus Christ,” the statement said.
“These are matters of faith and religious belief and should be treated with the respect afforded to all faith-based expressions.”
The dispute follows renewed scrutiny of Owuor’s ministry after a December 2025 rally where he claimed to have healed individuals suffering from serious illnesses, including HIV and AIDS. During the event, doctors were presented as having conducted tests allegedly confirming negative results.
The claims prompted the government to launch investigations, with Duale calling for the revocation of medical licences of any health professionals found to have participated in what he described as unscientific and unethical conduct.
“If he can go for knee replacement, I do not know why he should ask his followers to go for spiritual nourishment,” Duale said during the interview.
“This is what happened with Shakahola. We must be very careful.”
Duale said medical professionals involved in such claims must provide scientific proof, warning that failure to do so could result in suspension or revocation of licences for professional misconduct under medical ethics regulations.
The controversy places renewed focus on the intersection of religious freedom, public health regulation, and professional accountability, areas that remain governed by constitutional protections for belief alongside statutory oversight of medical practice.
