Duale warns of action against officials linked to SHA fraud

Defence Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale has issued a stern warning to medical practitioners and health officials found to be involved in defrauding the Social Health Authority.

Speaking on Friday, August 8, 2025, Duale said those implicated would be held personally accountable for their actions.

He noted that the government had already identified hospitals and a number of health officials linked to fraudulent activities within the scheme.

Handing cases to investigators

The CS confirmed that twelve health officials and several hospitals will be handed over to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations for further investigations.

“Any doctor or health official involved in defrauding SHA will be held personally responsible. We will hand over all the hospitals and the 12 health officials to the DCI for further investigations,” part of the statement read.

Duale said the investigations would be thorough and would aim to ensure that those responsible are prosecuted under the law.

He also stated that the relevant regulatory bodies had been instructed to take immediate disciplinary action.

Cancellation of licenses

According to the CS, one of the measures being taken is the cancellation of licenses for the implicated medical facilities and health workers.

“We have ordered the relevant regulatory bodies to cancel their licenses,” part of the statement read.

He added that the government is determined to protect public resources and ensure that the Social Health Authority functions transparently for the benefit of all Kenyans.

Duale noted that fraudulent practices not only drain funds meant for genuine patients but also undermine the credibility of the healthcare system.

The CS assured the public that the government will continue monitoring the operations of the SHA to detect and address any irregularities early.

He called on honest medical professionals to cooperate with investigators and help root out corruption within the system.

The SHA, established to oversee the provision of universal health coverage, has recently come under scrutiny after reports of false claims and misuse of resources.

Duale’s remarks come amid wider government efforts to tighten accountability and restore trust in public health programmes.