Gachagua to Duale: How do you shut down hospitals that don’t exist?
Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has hit out at Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale over remarks that the government will close down non-existent hospitals flagged in the ongoing audit of public funds.
Speaking during a church service at PCEA Ongata Rongai in Kajiado County on Sunday, August 31, 2025, Gachagua questioned how the government planned to close down hospitals that were never there in the first place.
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The former DP accused the government of turning a blind eye to genuine facilities serving millions of Kenyans while diverting resources to fraudulent schemes.
He further expressed shock that money from the Social Health Authority (SHA) was being sent to ghost hospitals while mission facilities run by churches are left struggling.
“We are in shock that pesa ya SHA inatumwa kwa mahosipitali that do not exist yet mahospitali za kanisa, mission hospitals za PCEA za Catholic churches are not receiving money, money is being sent to non-existing hospitals, “Gachagua said.
“Sasa Waziri anaitwa Duale anasema, ‘ We shall shut down all those hospitals.’ How do you shut down hospitals that do not exist? It is important that we respect Kenyans.”
Duale on rogue hospitals
This comes after Duale earlier noted that since the rollout of SHA, rogue hospitals attempted to defraud billions.
He added that the government had already shut down 728 non-compliant facilities, downgraded 301 by the Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Council, and suspended services at 85 facilities in multiple counties.
Shut down
It is worth noting that Principal Secretary for Medical Services, Ouma Oluga, announced that more than 728 health facilities across the country have been closed, while an additional 301 have been downgraded.
Speaking during a local radio interview on Tuesday, August 26, 2025, the PS explained that the closed facilities are largely privately run, though several public facilities have also been affected. He added that the 301 downgraded facilities were mainly public institutions that had previously been elevated beyond their capacity through political influence.
Stating that you might find a facility that is Level 4 rendering services not as per its level
“So far we have closed down 728 facilities, which are mainly private facilities with some public facilities, and downgraded 301 facilities, which are mainly public facilities, because some of these facilities were being upgraded politically where someone goes to push, saying that this is a level 3, and because maybe the member of parliament is powerful, it’s pushed to level 4, and SHA pays as per the level it is, but when you look at the services it’s rendering, it’s not that of level 4,” Ouma stated.
