Kisauni MP Rashid Bedzimba defends Duale over SHA fiasco
By Luke Oluoch, August 30, 2025Kisauni MP Rashid Bedzimba has leapt to the defense of Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale as calls for his resignation continue to mount amid reports of fraud involving ghost hospitals at the Social Health Authority (SHA).
Speaking in an empowerment drive in Narok County on Saturday, August 2025, the lawmaker vouched for Duale as a god-fearing individual.
‘The issue of SHA has been spoken of here. Personally, I don’t have a problem with you. I know you are a god-fearing man who cannot discriminate against people. I believe what you are saying is the truth. I and others will offer you our unwavering support on any decision you take on this matter,” he assured the CS.
His sentiments come after Duale vowed to stay put on his job, stressing that he has a mandate to fix and transform the country’s healthcare system.
Speaking at the same venue, the embattled CS hit out at individuals whom he accused of trying to undermine the government’s efforts to achieve universal health coverage.
“We will not gamble with the health of the people of Kenya. As the president has said, we will make healthcare in our country accessible and equitable. Every Kenyan must have medical insurance,” he remarked.
Meaningful change
The CS likened his mission to reforms introduced in the public transport sector two decades ago, asserting that he would not step aside until meaningful change is achieved.
“Just as the late John Michuki once said that passengers would no longer stand in matatus but must be seated, I am even more determined. I am not going anywhere until I streamline this health sector,” Duale declared.
His fresh remarks came after he had earlier taken to his X page to clarify reports that the Social Health Authority had been paying millions of shillings to ghost hospitals.
The CS, In a statement posted on his X account on August 25, 2025, dismissed the reports as being peddled by critics hellbent on tarnishing his image.
“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 wrote.