Will new Health CS Duale be the SHA antidote?

The file has clogged the Health Ministry’s agenda for months, and now, it lands squarely on Duale’s shoulders.

Since its troubled rollout on October 1, 2024, Taifa Care under the Social Health Authority (SHA) cast a long shadow over President William Ruto’s ambitious Universal Health Coverage (UHC) agenda. 

The turbulence surrounding its implementation has made it more than just another item on the docket. For Duale, it is the defining assignment.  It is not just another task on the list. It is  number one on the  list.

“The prosperity of a nation depends on the health of its people. A key priority will be advancing the vision of the Universal Health Coverage Health (UHC) to guarantee equitable healthcare access, especially for vulnerable populations,” Duale stated on his X handle following the announcement of his new posting from the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change and Forestry.

This marks his third Cabinet posting, having previously served in the Defence and Environment dockets. Now, he will be required to summon all his skills, experience, and political savvy as he takes charge at Afya House.

It is at Afya House where President Ruto’s transformative pet project, Taifa Care, is domiciled, and his appointment signals the level of confidence the Head of State has in the former Garissa Township legislator and Majority leader to turn things around.

Following his reassignment, Duale offered a glimpse of what Kenyans should expect under his leadership, pledging to work round the clock to ensure Universal Health Coverage (UHC) is realised.

“In my new role, I remain committed to working with relevant stakeholders in driving government policies that strengthen healthcare delivery, ensuring accessible and quality services for all Kenyans. Health is central to the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA),”  he added

Following the recent changes in the executive, Duale becomes the third person to serve as Cabinet Secretary for Health in the current administration. He takes over from Dr. Deborah Mlongo Barasa, who has been moved to the Ministry of Environment in the latest Cabinet reshuffle.

Dr Barasa had been appointed to the Health docket after the exit of Susan Nakhumicha, who was among several Cabinet Secretaries affected by the dissolution of the Cabinet in July 2024. 

Nakhumicha has since been appointed as Kenya’s Permanent Representative to UN-Habitat in Nairobi.