Havi supports KMPDU protest against Duale’s appointment as Health CS
Lawyer Nelson Havi has backed the Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Union (KMPDU) for protesting against the appointment of former Environment Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale as the new CS in charge of the Ministry of Health.
Havi, in a statement shared via his official X account, argued that it was wrong to have what he termed as quacks in charge of professional assignments when Kenya has many qualified professionals in those fields.
Havi on non-professionals
The former Law Society of Kenya (LSK) president went ahead to state that the country should reject what he has viewed as deceit in all the 22 ministries.
“KMPDU is right in protesting the appointment of Aden Duale as Health CS. Why should we have quacks in charge of professional assignments when Kenya has many qualified professionals in those fields? It is high time we said NO to this subterfuge in all 22 ministries,” Havi stated.
KMPDU’s remarks
Havi’s remarks come two days after KMPDU signaled a potentially strained working relationship with Duale, citing his lack of understanding of medical professionals’ work.
KMPDU Secretary General Devji Atellah, while speaking in Kirinyaga County on Saturday, March 29, 2025, during the union’s Annual General Meeting (AGM), recalled past difficulties in dealing with non-medical professionals in leadership, including former Health CS Susan Nakhumicha.
According to Attellah, Nakhumicha, who recently landed a diplomatic role in President William Ruto’s government, struggled to grasp critical aspects of healthcare, such as the role of doctors and interns.
This, KMPDU noted, led to ineffective policies.
He further warned that Duale, as a career politician, must avoid turning healthcare matters into political debates if he wants to succeed at the ministry and that he should go and learn if he does not understand the role of interns.
“The new CS must understand the role of interns. If he doesn’t, he should go and learn,” Atellah emphasised.
Duale gets to work
As part of his inaugural works at the Ministry of Health, Duale has constituted a committee to help scrutinise and determine the legitimacy of pending bills owed to hospitals by the now-defunct National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF).
Through a special gazette notice, CS Duale confirmed the formation of the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) Pending Medical Claims Verification Committee.
According to the notice, the committee will be chaired by James Masiro Ojee, who will be deputised by Anne Wamae.
Members of the verification committee include Edward Kiplimo Bitok, Meshack Matengo, Meboh Atieno Awour, Tom Nyakaba, Catherine Karori Bosire, Paul Wafula, Catherine Mungania, James Oundo, Jackline Mukami Njiru, Judith Awinja and David Dawe.
They will be assisted by a secretariat comprising Peter Kitheka (Head of the Secretariat), Shawn Mogaka, Consolata Ogot (Dr.), Emmanuel Ayodi Lusigi (Dr.), Halima Yussuf and Wilbert Kurgat.
