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Health Ministry Rejects Taskforce Allegations, Calls for Presidential Intervention

The Ministry of Health has strongly refuted allegations made by the Presidential Taskforce on Health, which were published in the national dailies on February 4, 2025. In a statement signed by Hon. Mohamed B. Duba, Secretary General, the Ministry argues that the taskforce’s findings were not only misleading but also an intentional effort to shield the inefficiencies of the Director General of Health (DG).

According to the Ministry, all technical failures identified in the report were a direct result of the DG’s inefficiency in his role as the technical advisor at the Ministry. Instead of addressing these failures, the taskforce placed heavy emphasis on an alleged conflict between the two Principal Secretaries (PSs), an issue that was not even within its terms of reference. The Ministry insists that this narrative was fabricated by an insider at Afya House, whose personal interests seem to have influenced the report rather than genuine concerns for the healthcare system.

Serious concerns have also been raised about the composition of the taskforce. The Ministry notes that it was made up entirely of professionals from curative healthcare, with no representation from preventive health cadres. This imbalance, they argue, undermines the credibility of the taskforce’s findings and recommendations. Furthermore, the DG, despite being an interested party, was included as a member of the taskforce, a move seen as a conflict of interest. The Ministry compares this to the National Taskforce on Police Reforms, where top security officials were not included in the taskforce but instead gave their submissions like other stakeholders.

The statement also highlights long-standing issues of marginalization and exclusion within the Ministry. The DG is accused of actively sidelining preventive healthcare professionals, blocking their engagement with the Cabinet Secretary (CS), and deliberately leaving them out of key programs. A recent example cited is a training on disease surveillance where port public health officers and county public health officers were excluded, despite being the frontline implementers of such initiatives. The Ministry views this as an attempt to undermine the role of preventive healthcare, which is a cornerstone of the current administration’s health agenda.

There are also concerns about the DG’s leadership style, which is described as obstructive and inefficient. The Ministry accuses him of being inaccessible during emergencies and selectively communicating with certain cadres, creating unnecessary bureaucratic hurdles that affect service delivery. His leadership is seen as a threat to the progress made in public health reforms, particularly in the implementation of Universal Health Coverage (UHC).

Given these concerns, the Ministry is calling on President William Ruto to urgently intervene and take decisive action. They urge the President to restore fairness, inclusivity, and accountability in the health sector, ensure that preventive healthcare remains a national priority, and hold those responsible for misinformation accountable. The Ministry warns that if these issues are not addressed, the country risks undoing the gains made in public health, especially in reducing the burden of communicable diseases.

Kenya has made great strides in strengthening its healthcare system, but the statement warns that focusing solely on curative medicine will not solve the country’s health challenges. With 85% of communicable diseases being preventable at the community level, investing in preventive healthcare is not just necessary—it is the most effective way to reduce healthcare costs and improve public health outcomes.

As the debate unfolds, all eyes are now on the government to see how it will respond to these allegations and whether it will take steps to address the concerns raised by the Ministry.

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