Duale defends SHA county appointments amid uproar

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Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale on Saturday defended the recent appointment of senior county officials at the Social Health Authority (SHA), insisting that the recruitment process was strictly based on merit and free from political interference.

The appointments have sparked widespread public debate after reports emerged that nearly half of the positions were filled by individuals from just two communities.

A physical count shows that out of the 47 officials deployed to counties as SHA County Operations Managers, 22 are drawn from two communities, with the remaining positions shared among other groups.

The revelations triggered heated discussions online, with many Kenyans questioning whether the recruitment adhered to constitutional principles of equity, inclusiveness, and regional balance as outlined in Article 10 of the Constitution.

Speaking at Garissa High School during a function to hand over a new bus, where he was the chief guest, Duale distanced himself from the recruitment process, saying he did not interfere in any way.

“I want to make it very clear that as the Health Cabinet Secretary, I don’t interfere with how SHA recruits or how Kenyatta National Hospital recruits. They have boards and management that handle these processes,” said Duale.

The CS acknowledged the concerns raised but argued that the country must also confront what he termed historical injustices in public service recruitment.

“Every Kenyan will be given an opportunity by the Social Health Authority based on competence and qualifications. In employing these Kenyans, Article 10 and public service guidelines will be considered to ensure all regions, communities, religions, and genders are given equal opportunity,” he added.

Duale noted that historical imbalances in public sector employment had been documented in several official reports.

“That historical injustice is not something I am inventing. It is contained in Public Service Commission audits and National Cohesion and Integration Commission reports, which show that over the years there has been imbalance in public service employment,” he said.

Despite expressing confidence in the SHA leadership, Duale said he would seek a detailed briefing on how the recruitment was conducted.

“On Monday, I will call both the board and the management of the Social Health Authority to take me through the process. I have full confidence in the leadership of SHA to carry out its duties diligently,” he said.

During the same event, Duale emphasized the government’s commitment to teachers, describing them as the backbone of the country’s human capital. He said this was the reason teachers had been prioritized under the SHA medical scheme.

“Under SHA, teachers will have more benefits. They will access more referral hospitals, their foreign treatment package is better, and the scheme is run not by individuals but through a reputable government digital system run called SHA and DHA,” Duale said.

“Teachers are the backbone of our human capital, and we must ensure they get the best health care,” he added.

The Health CS further announced that beginning April 1, all security forces will be enrolled under the Public Servants Medical Scheme, which will also be managed by SHA.

“We want to ensure our men and women in uniform, the National Police Service — working with the Inspector General and the Ministry of Interior, receive quality healthcare. They work under difficult conditions, and they and their dependents deserve the best health care delivery system,” Duale said.