Duale likely to survive SHA storm – Peter Mbae
Former Head of Government Delivery Service (GDS) Peter Mbae has said Health Cabinet Secretary (CS) Aden Duale will likely survive the current storm facing the Social Health Authority (SHA).
Speaking to a local TV station on Thursday, August 28, 2025, Mbae argued that despite the uproar, political realities suggest that Duale will not be forced out of office.
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According to Mbae, Kenya’s fight against corruption is often weakened by a system where accountability depends on political convenience.
He insisted that in a country where integrity is genuinely upheld, Duale would have already been shown the door.
“The CS should be out by now if we are serious about integrity and corruption. But he cannot, and will not be sacked.
“You mentioned Parliament, and envelopes will change hands. There is a report on the SHA from the Auditor General, it is lying in Parliament, and nothing has happened,” Mbae said.
Challenges facing SHA
Mbae further raised concern about the sustainability of SHA if proposed reforms are not carefully implemented.
He cautioned that closing down health facilities accused of fraudulent claims would have devastating consequences for ordinary Kenyans.
“What will happen if you close a thousand hospitals? What will happen to the people down there?
“The promise of SHA was that people will pay Ksh300 depending on their income, and the vulnerable would be paid by the state. Now it has changed, you must pay for one year. The informal sector nobody is contributing,” he lamented.
His remarks come amid public anger over reports that SHA funds have been disbursed to ghost hospitals, sparking calls for a forensic audit of the scheme. Critics argue that the situation mirrors past scandals at the defunct National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF).
Political safety net
Mbae suggested that Duale’s survival is assured because of the political shield he enjoys from both Parliament and the Executive.
He added that unless the President decisively acts, the controversy may eventually fade without meaningful accountability.
The debate around SHA remains at the centre of Kenya’s public discourse, with civil society, legislators, and health experts urging reforms to safeguard the scheme.
For now, however, it appears that Duale will weather the storm, at least politically.
