Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) Communications Director Philip Etale has come to the defence of Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale following the criticism directed at him by Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale.

In a statement shared via his official social media accounts on Saturday, April 19, 2025, Etale argued that Khalwale has been harsh on Duale.

He further claimed that Khalwale was unfair in his continued criticism against Duale, stating that the Ministry of Health has been headed by ministers who are non-doctors before.

Etale listed Bernard Mate, Joseph Otiende, Ole Tipis, Mwai Kibaki, Charity Ngilu, Kisumu Governor Prof. Anyang Nyong’o, Joshua Angatia, James Macharia, Cicily Kariuki, and the current Agriculture CS Mutahi Kagwe as some of the non-doctors that have been at the helm of the health docket as ministers before.

Etale on performance

He went ahead to argue that the non-doctor ministers had performed in one or the other, urging Khalwale to give Duale time and criticise him at the end of his term if he will not have performed.

“I think my senator @DrBKhalwale was too harsh on the new health CS @HonAdenDuale. Maybe someone should remind him that the Ministry has had non-doctor ministers like Bernard Mate, Joseph Otiende, Ole Tipis, Mwai Kibaki, @mamangilu, Prof. Nyong’o, Joshua Angatia, James Macharia, Cicily Kariuki, and Mutahi Kagwe, just to mention a few… and they performed in one of or the other. Give him time and criticise him at the end of his term if he will not have performed. Ama namna gani Omwami,” Etale wrote on X.

I think my Senator @DrBKhalwale was too harsh on the new health CS @HonAdenDuale. Maybe someone should remind him that the Ministry has had non Doctor Ministers like Bernard Mate, Joseph Otiende, Ole Tipis, Mwai Kibaki, @mamangilu, Prof. Nyong’o, Joshua Angatia, James Macharia,…

— Philip Etale (@EtalePhilip) April 19, 2025

Khalwale takes on Duale

Etale’s statement comes just hours after Khalwale asked Duale to review the current rollout of the Social Health Authority (SHA).

The senator said SHA must be aligned with the actual cost of medical care in the country if it is to benefit Kenyans.

Speaking on Saturday, April 19, 2025, Khalwale urged top health officials, including the Director of Medical Services and the Principal Secretary for Health, to present workable proposals to CS Duale on how to make SHA more effective.

He insisted that the success of SHA should not be measured by the number of people who have registered but by the quality of services citizens receive.

“The beauty of SHA is not in people registering. The beauty of SHA will be seen in the good services that citizens will get from it,” he stated.

He also criticised CS Duale for ignoring the advice of healthcare professionals and urged him to be more receptive to expert input.

“I want to tell the Director of Medical Services and the PS for Health to go to the Health CS Aden Duale, ask him to reduce his arrogance and listen to you because you are the experts. Duale, I don’t know what he studied,” Khalwale remarked.

The senator offered to contribute to the ongoing discussions, saying his experience and seniority in the medical field could help improve the scheme.

On April 17, Khalwale also hit out at Duale, urging him to stop being rude and listen to the doctors. Khalwale, while speaking on the floor of the Senate, argued that the health CS was just a small person before the doctors and that he should always listen to their grievances.