Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale has dismissed growing claims that the Social Health Authority (SHA) has been paying millions of shillings to ghost hospitals. His defence, however, has sparked further debate about the government’s ability to stop health fraud.

“No amount of propaganda or blackmail will deter us from fixing our healthcare system. We know saboteurs of SHA have recruited several groups including some sections of the media to advance their agenda. Let them be warned: We are fixing this thing regardless of the noise,” Duale took to X on Monday, August 25, 2025.

Duale earlier insisted that most of the facilities being circulated online as fraudulent had already been sanctioned earlier in the year.

“The facilities you found circulating on social media are facilities that majority of them were closed in May, some were suspended, some were downgraded. What Kenyans on social media are telling us is information that we already have,” he said.

Public trust remains fragile

But critics argue that such responses do little to reassure Kenyans who are seeing repeated scandals involving the health fund.

SHA recently denied disbursing nearly Ksh20 million to a deserted hospital in Homa Bay, saying the payment went to Nyandiwa Level 4 Hospital, which has existed since the 1970s. CEO Mercy Mwangangi explained that confusion arose because the hospital retained its old account name from when it was a dispensary.

Still, questions linger over how fraudulent or inactive facilities continue to find their way into the system. Critics have pressed the ministry to prove that the much-publicised fraud detection measures are working.

Duale acknowledged that billions of shillings have already been paid out under the new health system, with more awaiting release by the Treasury. Yet for many Kenyans, the issue is not only about money disbursed but also about trust in the reforms.

While the Cabinet Secretary insists “our work has just begun,” civil society groups and healthcare professionals continue to demand transparency.