The gloves are off. In a weekend of high-octane political theater, former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua—now leading the Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP)—has launched a scathing attack on the Social Health Authority (SHA), alleging that the system is a “ticking time bomb” of corruption and incompetence.
Speaking during a “United Opposition” tour in the Ukambani region on March 29 and 30, Gachagua claimed that the newly restructured health scheme is being looted by “vested interests” at the highest levels of government.
1. The “Ksh 104 Billion” Allegation
Gachagua’s most explosive claim involves a massive Ksh 104 billion contract linked to the implementation of the SHA digital system.
The Conflict: Gachagua alleged that Health CS Aden Duale holds a 17% stake in one of the firms within the consortium awarded the contract.
The “Six Month” Warning: Gachagua predicted that the SHA would be insolvent and “totally paralyzed” by September 2026, citing a foundation of “operational incompetence” and massive siphoning of public funds.
2. Duale’s Fierce Rebuttal: “Check My Wealth Declaration”
Health CS Aden Duale did not take the accusations lying down. In a series of sharp rebuttals on Sunday evening and Monday morning, Duale dismissed the claims as “baseless political malice.”
The Challenge: “I am a man of integrity. I still wait for him to go to the Business Registration Bureau and get my wealth declaration,” Duale fired back, challenging Gachagua to produce a CR12 document proving his ownership in any government-contracted firm.
The Data: Duale defended the SHA’s performance, stating the authority has paid out Ksh 27.5 billion in claims over its 19-month lifespan—representing 78% of all processed claims.
3. The “Ghost Claims” Counter-Attack
The CS didn’t just defend; he counter-attacked. Duale claimed that the noise surrounding SHA is a reaction to the government’s crackdown on fraudulent hospitals.
The Fraud: Duale noted that the Ministry has already closed over 1,100 facilities for defrauding the system through “ghost patients” and fake surgeries.
The Accusation: He hinted that individuals linked to Gachagua’s former office were involved in these NHIF-era irregularities and warned that their identities would be made public soon.
4. The Healthcare Reality Check
While the politicians trade barbs, the reality on the ground remains tense:
Debt: Gachagua claims faith-based hospitals are owed over Ksh 90 billion, threatening to shut down.
Performance: Duale insists that 30.19 million Kenyans are now registered on the system, which is “stable and expanding.”
The Bottom Line
The Gachagua-Duale clash is more than a personal grudge; it is a battle for the soul of Kenya’s Universal Health Coverage (UHC). If Gachagua’s “intelligence” is correct, the system is on the brink of disaster. If Duale’s metrics are accurate, the government is successfully cleaning up a decades-old “corruption den.”
