Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale has confirmed that all former top state leaders, including ex-presidents and vice presidents, are beneficiaries of the Social Health Authority (SHA) scheme.
Speaking on Thursday, April 2, Duale noted that the inclusion of former heads of state and their deputies reflects the government’s confidence in the program.
“For the avoidance of doubt, all former presidents and vice presidents are covered by the Social Health Authority. If we cover you, then you cannot claim SHA is not working,” he stated.
All Former Top Leaders Enrolled in Social Health Authority, CS Aden Duale Confirms. Photo: Courtesy.
The remarks come days after Duale dismissed former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua’s assertion that the SHA program would collapse within six months.
On Sunday, March 29, Duale accused Gachagua of attempting to extort health facilities and urged hospital owners not to be swayed by the former deputy president’s claims.
The CS challenged the former DP to uphold personal integrity, particularly regarding allegations of disinheriting his late brother’s widow and children, before criticizing the government’s SHA program.
Duale emphasized that the Social Health Authority has made significant progress over the past 19 months.
The authority has disbursed over KSh 19 billion for primary health care (PHC) and paid out a total of KSh 121 billion, benefiting more than 30 million Kenyans.
During a church service in Kirinyaga County on Sunday, Rigathi Gachagua warned that the SHA program could collapse within six months, citing unpaid debts to hospitals.
Gachagua claimed that hospitals, particularly faith-based ones, are owed KSh 90 billion and urged them to demand payment before continuing services to avoid a sector-wide crisis.
