Resign Or Be Impeached: MPs Tell CS Duale

Members of Parliament (MPs) aligned with the Kenya Moja faction have called for the resignation of Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale.

Speaking to the press on Wednesday, August 27, the MPs accused him of conflict of interest, laxity in his duties, and misleading the public.

Kitutu Chache MP Anthony Kibagendi, in particular, claimed that Duale has links to the company behind the development of the Social Health Authority (SHA) system.

“We demand the immediate resignation of Honourable Aden Duale, the CS for Health, for conflict of interest, complacency, trying to hoodwink Kenyans with theatrics of summoning the media to harass facilities, and suspending some facilities.

Leaders of the Kenya Moja group, led by Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna (middle), Bomachoge Borabu MP Obadia Barongo (second left), Clive Gisairo (Kitutu Masaba) (left), and Tonny Kibagendi (Kitutu Chache South) (right), addressing members of the press on Wednesday, August 27, 2025, in Nairobi, Kenya. /THE STAR

"He has been talking tough out here, putting on a face just to hoodwink Kenyans,” said the Kitutu Chache South MP.

The Kenya Moja group of legislators cited the alleged multibillion-shilling scandal at SHA as the primary reason for demanding Duale’s resignation.

They warned that if the Health CS fails to step down, they will initiate an impeachment process against him, a figure who has been in the national spotlight since taking office.

Alongside Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna, the group included Bomachoge Borabu MP Obadia Barongo, Kitutu Masaba MP Clive Gisairo, Kibagendi, and Funyula MP Wilber Oundo.

“If in the next 48 to 72 hours Honourable Duale does not resign, we are looking at impeachment as one of the possible avenues to ensure he is removed from office,” asserted Kibagendi.

The legislators further called for the resignation of Social Health Authority (SHA) chair Abdi Mohammed, who is facing allegations of conflict of interest.

Not stopping there, they also demanded that the SHA Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Mercy Mwangangi, step down.

The leaders linked Duale and powerful figures within State House to the alleged scandal at the Authority, following reports of questionable disbursements, including payments to non-existent health facilities.

“SHA is not a reform; SHA is a grand, calculated scam. We have uncovered evidence of deep-rooted conflict of interest. The CS for Health is reportedly associated with the same company that developed the SHA system, “ Kibagendi alleged.

The demands were issued just a day after the Social Health Authority (SHA) suspended 45 health facilities from participating in the Social Health Insurance program. According to a gazette notice, the affected facilities have been prohibited from serving beneficiaries under the scheme.

On Monday, August 26, Duale revealed what he described as large-scale fraud within the Social Health Authority (SHA), with investigations exposing cases of upcoding, falsified medical records, manipulation of outpatient visits into inpatient admissions, and billing for ghost patients.

He announced a crackdown on facilities implicated in the scheme, noting that claims amounting to Ksh10.6 billion had already been rejected for fraud or non-compliance.

Shortly after his disclosure, reports indicated that the SHA’s public payment portal and the Kenya Master Health Facility Registry (KMHFR)—platforms used to monitor payments and list hospitals receiving SHA funds—had been taken offline.

This triggered speculation of a cover-up within the Ministry of Health, even as Duale reiterated his commitment to push ahead with reforms in the Authority amid mounting criticism from a section of Kenyans.

He also alleged that certain groups, including the media, were part of a coordinated attempt to undermine the government’s reform agenda in the health sector.