Duale defends integrity amid spat with Gachagua
By Faith Lagat, March 30, 2026Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale has defended his personal and professional integrity following claims by former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua concerning the Social Health Authority (SHA).
The exchange, which played out in public forums and on social media, comes amid ongoing debate over the implementation of Universal Health Coverage (UHC) in Kenya.
Claims over SHA spark dispute
The disagreement escalated after Gachagua, while addressing congregants at the ACK Diocese of Kirinyaga in Ndia Constituency on Sunday, March 29, 2026, warned that the SHA risks collapsing within six months.
He said faith-based and other hospitals are owed about Ksh 90 billion and urged medical facilities to demand upfront payments or immediate settlement before offering further services.
In a statement posted on his official X account on Monday, March 30, 2026, Duale dismissed the claims as “reckless.” He challenged Gachagua to present the dossier he had previously mentioned regarding the alleged Ksh 90 billion owed to faith-based organisations running medical facilities.
Duale also addressed claims that he holds a 17 per cent stake in Convergence Network Limited, a firm linked to SHA’s IT infrastructure.
He asked Gachagua to produce the official CR12 document from the Business Registration Service, which lists company shareholders and directors, saying it would confirm he has “no ownership, direct or indirect.”
Questions over contracts and integrity
The Health CS further rejected assertions that the government contracted a consortium including Safaricom PLC, Konvergenz Network Solutions, and Convergence Network Limited to operate SHA at a cost of Ksh 104 billion.
According to Duale, the arrangement in place is a lawful IT infrastructure contract that has been affirmed by the courts. He urged Gachagua to make public any purported agreement if it exists.
Duale also referenced issues involving Gachagua’s family, urging the former Deputy President to address what he described as “longstanding family concerns” before questioning others on integrity.
“I am not cut from the same cloth, certainly not one associated with the disinheritance of widows and orphans,” Duale said, adding that Gachagua should “sort out your integrity issues” first.
The CS noted that he had earlier challenged Gachagua to release the dossier at 10 a.m. the following day, but said none had been presented by mid-afternoon.
Defending record in public service
Duale maintained that his record in public service remains clean, citing his roles as Assistant Minister, Member of Parliament, Leader of Majority in the National Assembly, and Cabinet Secretary in the Defence, Environment and Health ministries.
“I have lived a life of integrity,” he said, challenging Gachagua to point to any moment in his career when he had faced similar accusations.
He also pointed to SHA’s progress, stating that more than Ksh 19 billion has been disbursed for primary healthcare over the past 19 months and that nearly Ksh 121 billion has been paid to health facilities.
Duale said more than 30 million Kenyans are currently registered under the scheme.
The exchange follows earlier tensions between the two leaders. In February 2026, Duale invited Gachagua to a public debate on development in the North Eastern region during a youth empowerment event in Garissa attended by President William Ruto.