Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale has asked President William Ruto to demonstrate his commitment to fighting corruption in government by dismissing two senior officials.
In a statement on Thursday, August 28, Khalwale asked President Ruto to sack Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale and Social Health Authority (SHA) chairperson Abdi Mohamed over fraud allegations.
SHA has come under scrutiny over allegations of irregular disbursements and payments to ghost health facilities.
“If the President ever wanted his commitment to fight corruption to be believable, this is the perfect opportunity.
“He must immediately dismiss these two suspected (Aden Duale and Mohamed Abdi) fraudsters even as Kenyans await their arrest and prosecution in court,” said the Kakamega Senator.
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Khalwale’s remarks come a day after Members of Parliament allied to the Kenya Moja faction demanded the immediate resignation of CS Duale and Abdi.
Addressing the press on Wednesday, August 27, the MPs accused the Health CS and SHA Chairperson of conflict of interest.
The lawmakers alleged that CS Duale is associated with the company that developed the Social Health Authority (SHA) system.
“We demand the immediate resignation of honorable Aden Duale, the CS for Health, for conflict of interest, complacency, trying to hoodwink Kenyans with theatrics of summoning the media to harass facilities, and suspending some facilities.
"He has been talking tough out here, putting on a face just to hoodwink Kenyans,” said Kitutu Chache South MP Anthony Kibagendi.
The Kenya Moja MPs gave CS Duale a 48-hour ultimatum to resign from the cabinet or face impeachment.
“If in the next 48 to 72 hours Honourable Duale does not resign, we are looking at impeachment as one of the possible avenues to ensure he is removed from office,” Kibagendi added.
On Monday, CS Duale dismissed media reports linking SHA to fraudulent payments and insider dealings.
The Health CS Duale, who was responding to a headline by a local newspaper that alleged massive payouts to hospitals associated with government officials, claimed the coverage was part of an attempt to derail reforms.
"No amount of propaganda or blackmail will deter us from fixing our healthcare system. We know saboteurs of SHA have recruited several groups, including some sections of the media, to advance their agenda. Let them be warned: We are fixing this thing regardless of the noise,” said Duale.
