Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale has hit back at Boni Khalwale after the Kakamega Senator openly questioned his academic credentials and his ability to lead the health docket.
Duale, in a statement on Sunday, September 7, dismissed Khalwale's sentiments as a personal attack, urging the senator to focus on matters of substance rather than personality politics.
While reiterating that he was more than qualified to hold office at the Ministry of Health, Duale said, “Senator, my academic papers are within the precinct of Parliament (Hansard and committee reports) and submitted to the vetting committee of the National Assembly twice. Discuss substance, not personalities."
"I will always have respect for Parliament and its leadership. My focus is on health reforms. Period."
Duale was responding to sentiments made by Khalwale during a funeral in Mumias West, where the Senator went on an untamed rant against the Social Health Authority (SHA), dragging Duale's name in the process.
Khalwale sensationally suggested that part of the reason the year-old government initiative aimed at providing universal health coverage was flawed could be due to Duale's lack of expertise.
“This minister of yours, Duale, in his entire life, we Kenyans don’t know what he studied. We don’t know whether he has a degree in herding camels or what kind of education he has," Khalwale said on Saturday, September 6, during the burial of David Keya Watitwa, a schoolboy allegedly killed by the 42 Brothers gang.
The Senator further criticised Duale over the closure of St Mary's Hospital, accusing the CS of failing to step in with tangible solutions to stop the facility's shutdown. Khalwale was adamant that St Mary's woes stemmed from delayed insurance reimbursements under the SHA framework.
“Mr President, I’m a professional; listen to me. I’m telling you what other doctors would like to tell you, but they don’t have the opportunity to do so,” added Khalwale, who is also a qualified medical doctor.
Duale has come under fire in recent weeks, particularly after it emerged that there has been massive fraud within the workings of SHA.
Since the launch of a crackdown by the government, 728 non-compliant facilities have been closed, while 301 have been downgraded by the Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Council (KMPDC). In June, SHA also suspended 40 facilities following forensic audits and announced plans to degazette an additional 45 flagged for fraudulent activities.
Further, the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) also confirmed the formation of a multi-agency team to handle over 1,000 files detailing perpetrators of fraud within SHA.
The files reportedly involve individuals, entities, and various parties suspected of engaging in healthcare fraud, particularly within SHA.
