Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna, on Sunday, August 31, reiterated his intentions to oust Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale as he urged Members of Parliament to start collecting signatures on the same.
Sifuna was among several leaders of the new-look 'youthful' opposition outfit dubbed Kenya Moja, who were present in Funyula, Busia County, for an empowerment programme.
In his speech, the Senator went after the Kenya Kwanza government as he specifically pointed a finger at the health docket under Duale over the alleged misappropriation of billions meant to go towards the year-old Social Health Authority (SHA).
According to Sifuna, signatures were already being collected by MPs to file an impeachment motion against Duale.
"We want to say what MPs here have agreed: that in the Senate, we lack the powers to remove him, but the National Assembly must act," Sifuna said.
The Senator added, “The signatures are ready. Once Parliament is back from recess, ensure the motion is brought to the floor. It takes mothers weeks to raise Ksh500 or Ksh1,000, yet people in Nairobi are sitting at computers entering fake claims of thousands. Is that fair?"
Sifuna was adamant that Duale should take personal responsibility for the irregularities surrounding SHA, as he criticised the ministry for delaying SHA claims, which he claims affected mostly women.
On Monday, August 25, the Health Ministry responded to growing public complaints and campaigns on social media over the misuse of billions of shillings, with Duale noting that fraudulent practices in the healthcare sector were a growing global challenge, accounting for up to 15 per cent of expenditures. In Kenya, the Association of Kenya Insurers (AKI) estimates that 30 per cent of medical payouts are linked to fraudulent claims.
Duale stated that since assuming office on April 1, 2025, his ministry has intensified the war against fraud through the introduction of a comprehensive digital system, revealing that the system uses artificial intelligence to flag irregularities and detect anomalies throughout the claims process.
At least 40 hospitals have since been suspended from the Social Health Authority (SHA) programme for engaging in fraudulent practices, with Duale admitting that Ksh3 billion worth of claims were under review due to missing documents.
The CS's take did little to help his cause, with Sifuna and his new legion of youthful political leaders initially calling for Duale to resign earlier in the week.
The group of leaders, which also comprised Bomachoge Borabu Member of Parliament (MP) Obadia Barongo, Clive Gisairo (Kitutu Masaba), Tonny Kibagendi (Kitutu Chache South), and Wilber Oundo (Funyula), warned that Duale's failure to resign would result in an impeachment motion.
Can a CS be impeached?
The mandate to impeach a CS or PS is held by MPs. The process to oust a CS comprises several steps, but is ultimately signed off on by the president.
Article 152 (6) of the Constitution states that a member of the National Assembly, supported by at least one-quarter of all the members of the Assembly, may propose a motion requiring the president to dismiss a CS.
In drafting the motion, an MP is required to collect at least 88 signatures, seek the Speaker’s approval on the motion, and finally give a Notice of the Motion in the House. Following the notice, the motion must be discussed by the House within seven days.
