Nyakera to Duale: Stop playing victim, answer for SHA billions
The Nairobi patron for the Democracy for Citizens’ Party (DCP), Irungu Nyakera, has taken a swipe at Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale, challenging him to stop portraying himself as a victim and instead address the concerns over billions of shillings reportedly lost through the Social Health Authority (SHA).
In a post on his X account on Sunday, August 31, 2025, Nyakera argued that Duale’s attempt to seek sympathy was a diversion from the pressing need for accountability.
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He insisted that Kenyans are demanding transparency regarding the alleged mismanagement of funds, not excuses or self-pity from top government officials.
“You know they are feeling the heat when they start playing victim. But Kenyans still want accountability over the billions lost through SHA, forget sympathy games bwana CS,” Nyakera stated.
His remarks were in direct response to a social media post by Duale, in which the CS lamented that dishonest individuals often escape scrutiny while those who uphold integrity are subjected to harsh criticism.
“The Sad Reality of Life: The crooked go untouched, while the straight are constantly hammered.” Duale’s post read.
Outrage
Nyakera’s rebuke comes amid searing public outrage, spurred by mounting evidence that vast sums earmarked for healthcare were misappropriated through fraudulent claims and fictitious hospitals. The SHA was created to replace the scandal-ridden National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF), which was disbanded after years of mismanagement. However, similar corruption allegations are already tainting the new authority.
In March this year, SHA disbursed Ksh 11.4 billion to hospitals across the country. Soon after, questions arose when small private facilities were found to have received disproportionately large amounts. Civil society groups and doctors’ unions warned that some of these hospitals did not exist, while others exaggerated claims to pocket millions.
Investigations by the Ministry of Health uncovered shocking fraud. Inspectors revealed falsified patient records, duplicate claims, ghost patients and instances where hospitals inflated bed capacity to receive more money. In one case, funds were released to a supposed hospital that turned out to be nothing more than a thicket.
On August 7, 2025, a Kenya Gazette notice listed 40 hospitals that had been suspended from the SHA program following a forensic audit. Twelve doctors and clinicians were also blocked from practice for their alleged involvement in fraudulent activities. SHA has denied some of the claims, including reports that Nyandiwa Hospital had received Ksh 20 million, but the denials have done little to ease public anger.
Oversight institutions have also raised serious concerns. Earlier this year, the Auditor General faulted the procurement of SHA’s digital platform, pointing to weak controls and irregular tendering. Civil society groups have echoed these findings, warning that the absence of competitive bidding created loopholes ripe for abuse.
Scandalous
The scandal has drawn comparisons to the NHIF debacle. In May 2025, a court confirmed that NHIF had suffered years of fraud through ghost patients, inflated claims and unpaid bills that crippled many hospitals across the country. Many Kenyans fear that SHA is now heading down the same path.
Over the past week, the scandal has escalated further. SHA has suspended additional facilities, pushing the total number of hospitals under investigation to 85, and is probing more than Ksh3 billion in questionable claims.
Civil society leaders and opposition politicians have increased pressure on both CS Aden Duale and SHA Chief Executive Mercy Mwangangi to resign, describing the scandal as a well-orchestrated scheme that has drained billions from public coffers.
Saboti MP Caleb Amisi has publicly challenged Duale to come clean, warning that the matter touches on national security and government legitimacy.
Meanwhile, President William Ruto has vowed to prosecute more than 1,000 hospitals accused of making fraudulent claims. The president’s tough stance followed reports of legitimate hospitals, including St Mary’s Mumias, being forced to close their doors due to unpaid claims, leaving patients stranded.
Investigations have also revealed that ghost hospitals, forged patient files and exaggerated claims have drained SHA of nearly Ksh10.6 billion. The fraud-prevention system, which should protect public funds, is still controlled by private contractors rather than the SHA itself, allowing irregularities to continue unchecked.
