Duale blames 'fraudulent facilities' for attacks on SHA after hospital closures

Duale was responding to Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua’s renewed attacks on SHA, after the Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) leader claimed the scheme was failing and alleged it was benefiting Duale through a proxy company abroad.

“I want to tell you for free: the people whose hospitals I have closed because of fraud are the ones you are dealing with, and you cannot scare me,” Duale said.

He spoke during the Grand Waqf Fundraiser for Madarasatul Towfiq Dadajabula on Sunday. 

The CS said insurance covers for police, teachers and civil servants — now under SHA — have better benefits and packages compared to the previous system.

Duale claimed teachers can now access about 6,000 hospitals, including referral facilities up to Level Six, compared to roughly 600 facilities previously.

“Today, teachers can access 6,000 hospitals, including all the referral hospitals… When in the old system, they were only accessing 600 facilities and one level six,” he said, adding that the government was protecting teachers’ benefits from “fraudulent facilities”.

He urged teachers, police, prison officers and civil servants to download the Afya Yangu mobile application, saying it allows members to view their benefits, balances and nearby hospitals.

“Please download the app called Afya Yangu on your phone. It will show you the amount of money, your benefits, the hospital that is near to you,” Duale said.

Gachagua, speaking during a church service in Murang’a on Sunday, claimed SHA “will collapse any minute” and alleged teachers were facing difficulty accessing services after being fully onboarded on the cover last year.

“Teachers are in trouble after moving from MINET… consultation is Ksh3,500. Last expenses are not covered in SHA,” Gachagua said, calling on teachers to confront union leaders he claimed had been compromised.

In the same address, the former DP also criticised the government over rising political violence, blaming Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen and Principal Secretary Raymond Omollo, whom he labelled “perpetrators of goonism”.

He further accused Deputy President Kithure Kindiki of sabotaging the fight against illicit brew in the Mt Kenya region, saying he could not forgive him.

The government has previously defended SHA reforms, saying the system is meant to expand access to health services and improve efficiency through digitised processes.