I dare you! Duale challenges Gachagua over SHA collapse dossier

Health CS Aden Duale speaking on March 29, 2026 / HANDOUT

Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale has challenged former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua to publicly release alleged evidence supporting claims that the Social Health Authority (SHA) will collapse within six months.

Duale dismissed the assertions as unfounded, defending the stability of SHA and citing data on registration and funding to counter the claims.

Speaking on Sunday, Duale said more than 30.1 million Kenyans have registered under the scheme, with about 12,000 new registrations recorded in a single day.

“I am told today he spoke about SHA and claimed he has a dossier. I dare Gachagua to release that dossier tomorrow at 10,” Duale said.

He added that the government has disbursed KSh121 billion to health facilities across the country, including public, private, and faith-based institutions, since the programme began 19 months ago.

Duale broke down the payments, saying Sh97 billion had been released under the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF), Sh3.5 billion for civil servants and teachers, Sh1.4 billion for emergency, chronic and critical illness care, and Sh19 billion for primary healthcare services.

He noted that the government has collected Sh156 billion over the same period. This includes Sh115 billion from SHIF contributions, Sh19.8 billion for primary healthcare, Sh12 billion from civil servants and teachers, and Sh8.3 billion for the emergency, critical, and chronic illness fund.

The CS said over 8.7 million Kenyans have accessed free primary healthcare services, while additional funding has been allocated to support maternal health services, particularly in remote areas. However, Gachagua maintained that the system is facing imminent collapse, warning of a looming crisis in healthcare delivery if urgent action is not taken.

Speaking at the ACK Diocese of Kirinyaga in Ndia Constituency on Sunday, Gachagua claimed that mounting unpaid bills owed to hospitals could cripple operations.

“I have information that SHA will collapse in six months and we will have a crisis in the health sector,” he said.

He alleged that hospitals, particularly faith-based and private facilities, are owed up to Sh90 million by the government, warning that the financial strain could force some to shut down.

On Sunday, Duale reaffirmed support for community-driven initiatives aimed at strengthening religious education, following his participation in a Waqf empowerment event in Wajir South.

The event, hosted by Wajir South Member of Parliament Mohammed Adow, focused on supporting madrasas under the Al-Nibras Foundation across Wajir South and the wider region.

The initiative seeks to mobilise resources for the purchase of land and construction of a permanent Waqf project in Nairobi’s South C, aimed at providing sustainable support for religious learning and strengthening institutions affiliated with the foundation.

Speaking during the event, Duale lauded the effort, urging leaders to support similar initiatives that promote education and community development.

He called on leaders to emulate Adow’s commitment to advancing and sustaining religious learning, noting that such programmes play a key role in empowering communities and preserving values through structured education systems.