Duale to Gachagua: Kenya deserves leaders of integrity, not endless controversy
By Emmanuel Rono, April 20, 2026Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale has launched an attack on former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, saying Kenya deserves leaders of integrity rather than endless controversy.
In a statement shared on his X account on Monday, April 20, 2026, Duale accused Gachagua of having a long history of integrity questions, pointing to multiple incidents spanning his public service career and recent political tenure.
He urged the former Deputy President to address the allegations raised against him and respond transparently to the public.
“Kenya deserves leaders of integrity, not endless controversy. Rigathi Gachagua rose to high office under a cloud of serious corruption allegations involving billions of shillings,” Duale wrote.
This comes following earlier attacks by Gachagua, who has sharply escalated his political attacks on Duale, accusing him of misleading Kenyans about the fourth President Uhuru Kenyatta’s record while defending President William Ruto’s leadership style and the troubled Social Health Authority (SHA) system.
Gachagua’s past dismissal
Duale referenced Gachagua’s time in the civil service, stating that he was dismissed in 1997 while serving as a District Officer in Laikipia over what he described as gross misconduct, a matter Duale said had never been fully explained publicly.
Additionally, Duale cited a 2021 incident in which Gachagua was reportedly arrested by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) at his Nyeri residence over allegations of money laundering and abuse of office linked to financial transactions associated with him.
“In 1997, he was dismissed from the civil service while serving as a District Officer in Laikipia over gross misconduct. A matter he has never fully explained to the public. In July 2021, he was arrested by the DCI at his Nyeri home over allegations of money laundering and abuse of office, tied to vast sums of money flowing through accounts associated with him,” Duale said.
He pointed out the ongoing family-related disputes involving the estate of the late Nyeri Governor Nderitu Gachagua, saying relatives had raised concerns over the handling of multibillion-shilling assets claims that remain legally contested.
“Even within his own family, disputes have spilled into the open. Relatives of the late Nyeri Governor, Nderitu Gachagua, have raised concerns over the handling of a multibillion-shilling estate. Claims that remain contested, but serious enough to demand clarity,” Gachagua said.
SHA and corruption claims
Gachagua has also criticised the Social Health Authority (SHA), which has become one of the most contested government reforms. He told Duale to concentrate on what he called failures in the health system instead of political debates.
“I would like Aden Duale to concentrate on this monster called SHA that is not working,” he said.
He made explosive claims about the financial state of the system, warning it could collapse soon.
“Tell us about a company… receiving Ksh600 million every month in Dubai while SHA payments are not being made,” he said.