NAIROBI, Kenya — A fresh political storm has erupted over Kenya’s health reforms after former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua alleged that a company linked to Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale is part of a multi-billion-shilling consortium implementing the Social Health Authority (SHA) system.
Speaking at recent public events, Gachagua claimed that Convergence Network Solutions, which he alleged is partly owned by Duale, was involved in the Sh104 billion SHA rollout. He further suggested that the arrangement raises serious questions about transparency and potential conflict of interest in one of the government’s flagship healthcare programmes.
The former Deputy President claimed the Health CS holds a 17 per cent stake in Convergence Network Solutions, a firm said to be part of a consortium involved in the system’s implementation.
The claims have not been independently verified, and neither Duale nor the company has publicly confirmed the alleged ownership structure.
Gachagua, who has been sharply critical of the SHA transition, also reiterated his broader allegations of financial mismanagement within the programme.
“The SHA system cost Sh104 billion, and that money went into people’s pockets,” he alleged.
He further claimed that part of the consortium includes a firm linked to a senior government official, intensifying scrutiny around procurement processes tied to the health scheme.
Aden Duale has previously dismissed similar allegations as baseless and politically motivated, maintaining that the SHA rollout is proceeding within legal and regulatory frameworks.
The dispute between Duale and Gachagua has escalated in recent weeks, with the Health CS challenging the former deputy president to provide concrete evidence to back his claims.
“I dare Riggy G to release that dossier tomorrow at 10,” Duale said in an earlier public address.
Duale has consistently defended the programme under the Social Health Authority, stating that millions of Kenyans have already been registered and that billions of shillings have been disbursed to health facilities across the country.
At the centre of the controversy are concerns about procurement, ownership structures, and the management of large-scale public funds under the new health financing model.
If substantiated, the allegations could raise significant ethical and legal questions, particularly around conflict of interest rules governing public officials.
However, analysts caution that such claims require formal investigation and documentary evidence before conclusions can be drawn.
The row comes amid deepening political divisions following Gachagua’s fallout with President William Ruto’s administration and his emergence as a leading opposition figure.
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His latest claims appear to form part of a broader campaign challenging key government programmes, including the SHA, which replaced the defunct NHIF as part of Kenya’s universal health coverage agenda.
The controversy also reflects increasing politicisation of major public sector reforms, as rival factions position themselves ahead of the 2027 general election.
As pressure mounts, attention is likely to shift to whether investigative agencies or parliamentary committees will probe the claims, and whether the government will release detailed procurement and ownership records related to the SHA project.
For now, the allegations remain contested, with both sides standing firm, highlighting the high stakes surrounding Kenya’s evolving healthcare system.
