Interior Cabinet Secretary (CS) Kipchumba Murkomen on Thursday, September 25, publicly praised Health CS Aden Duale while speaking about the challenges in Kenya’s health sector, describing him as the kind of “tough-headed” leader needed to push through reforms.
Murkomen, addressing a gathering in Nairobi, said that the Social Health Authority (SHA) which is tasked with implementing the new Universal Health Coverage scheme was “full of tricks” and required someone with Duale’s firm approach to steer it effectively.
“SHA ikona ukora mingi lakini Duale anasukuma. Mambo ya health inataka mtu kichwa ngumu kama Health CS Duale!” Murkomen said, sparking laughter and applause from the audience.
His comments highlighted ongoing concerns from various quarters that the rollout of the new health financing model has been slow and sometimes marred by controversy.
The SHA has been under pressure to ensure smooth registration and service delivery under the new UHC plan, which aims to provide affordable and accessible healthcare to all Kenyans.
Murkomen’s remarks reflect the government’s recognition of the challenges and its commitment to tightening oversight and pushing for efficiency.
Kenyans online were quick to react, with some agreeing that the health sector needs firm leadership, while others criticised Murkomen for seemingly downplaying the complexity of healthcare reforms.
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