Duale: Ministry of Health ready to lead in adopting e-procurement
Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale has announced that the Ministry of Health is prepared to spearhead the adoption of e-procurement, a move he says will enhance transparency and accountability in the management of public resources.
Duale expressed strong support for digitisation in government processes, arguing that technology has already demonstrated its ability to detect fraud and seal loopholes in procurement.
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“I am 100 per cent with e-procurement,” he said, speaking to the media on Thursday, August 28, 2025. “Digitisation of the health sector has proved beyond doubt that fraud and corruption can be detected using technology. I am ready to be the first ministry, and I have already told my team there is no excuse.”
Wider govt adoption
The CS noted that Parliament’s role is limited to oversight after procurement is complete, not during the process itself. He said this distinction should encourage ministries, departments, and agencies to embrace technology in procurement without fear of interference.
“We should go for e-procurement in all three arms of government,” he stated. “When the procurement process is over, that is when Parliament should come in to see whether money has been used properly.”
Duale maintained that implementing e-procurement across government would restore public confidence and ensure that resources are directed to the people who need them most. He emphasised that the health sector, being a lifeline for millions of Kenyans, must set the pace for others to follow.
Duale’s comments come at a time when the Ministry of Health continues to face public scrutiny following past procurement controversies. Most notably, the establishment of the Social Health Authority (SHA) has brought heated debate on how health funds are managed, with critics pointing to loopholes and risks of misuse.
The SHA drama, which raised questions about inflated costs and weak accountability measures, exposed the vulnerability of traditional procurement systems. It remains at the centre of Kenya’s public discourse, with civil society, legislators, and health experts urging reforms to safeguard the scheme.
Duale’s pledge to place his ministry at the forefront of e-procurement is therefore being seen as a deliberate effort to reassure Kenyans that such scandals will not be repeated under his watch.
