Newly appointed Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale has declared his readiness to tackle corruption within the ministry, commonly referred to as “Afya House.”
The former Defence and Environment CS vowed to crack down on cartels that have taken control of the ministry, stating, “Those with personal interests have no space at Afya House.”
“I will face the cartels head-on because I have blessings from the President,” Duale asserted.Duale officially assumed office on March 25 during a brief handover ceremony from former Health CS Debora Barasa, who was reassigned to the environment docket.
On Sunday, Duale emphasized his determination to implement reforms aimed at enhancing transparency, accountability, and efficiency in the healthcare sector.
The CS acknowledged the existence of deep-rooted corruption networks that have historically impeded service delivery and pledged to dismantle these ‘cartels’ to ensure that resources are utilized effectively for the benefit of all Kenyans.
Speaking at Adams Arcade Mosque during Eid ul-Fitr celebrations on Sunday, Duale reiterated his commitment to rooting out corruption, accusing cartels of deliberately sabotaging the government’s efforts to achieve Universal Health Coverage (UHC).
According to Duale, he has already engaged with President William Ruto regarding his mandate in his new role, with the President endorsing his decision to take decisive action to ensure the success of SHA.
“With the commitment of the President and my commitment, I want to assure Kenyans that universal healthcare is for all citizens,” the CS stated.“For those with personal interests, they better come to their senses and decide whether they want to work for citizens or work for themselves.”Immediately after his transfer to the health docket, Duale appointed a committee to audit the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) debts as part of his efforts to clean up the ministry.
Duale’s appointment comes at a critical time when the healthcare system faces numerous challenges, including inadequate funding, mismanagement of resources, and longstanding allegations of corruption.
