Ruto allies defend CS Duale over impeachment threat

By Jonathan Musau

A section of President William Ruto’s allies from Ukambani have come out strongly in defence of Health Cabinet Secretary Adan Duale, who is facing impeachment threats from legislators allied to the Kenya Moja coalition.

Led by UDA National Organizing Secretary and Mwala MP Vincent Kawaya, the leaders dismissed the impeachment push, terming it a scheme by “cartels fighting back” against reforms in the health sector.

Speaking in Kitui East during a boda boda empowerment program, Kawaya vowed that the ruling coalition would shoot down any motion against Duale, describing him as “a victim of corruption cartels” resisting accountability.

Kawaya pointed to the ongoing investigations into the Social Health Authority (SHA), where billions of shillings are alleged to have been siphoned through fraudulent claims, payments to ghost facilities, and collusion between rogue health workers and unscrupulous clinics.

Reports indicate that some facilities filed fake patient records and inflated invoices, draining public funds meant to benefit ordinary Kenyans.

“The Government must move with speed to close all facilities implicated in the theft of SHA money and the DPP should prefer charges without delay. We cannot allow criminals to cripple healthcare through corruption,” Kawaya said.

UDA nominated Senator Tabitha Mutinda echoed his sentiments, warning that the war on corruption must not be selective.

She insisted that those who engineered the collapse of NHIF and have now infiltrated SHA must face the full force of the law.

The host, Kitui East MP Nimrod Mbai, and Kitui South MP Rachael Nyamai, rallied behind President Ruto’s leadership, praising his reforms and urging Kenyans to support government initiatives aimed at streamlining healthcare and empowering communities.

They emphasized that the impeachment threats were politically motivated and meant to derail the administration’s efforts to restore integrity in public service delivery.