Aasai

Health Minister Adan Duale said he would not resign in connection with the Social Insurance (SHA), insisting that he was innocent of the corruption that continues to be exposed.  Duale has also ignored politicians who want him to be fired, saying they have no constitutional basis to remove him.

"The reasons for the ministers excitement have been made clear in the Constitution, and I have not violated any. I have blocked the loopholes they used to steal public property, and now they are angry, but we will not be intimidated," said Mr Duale.

The statement was made amid pressure from opposition leaders involved in the SHA scandal. Earlier this week, members of the new Kenyan Union called on Mr Duale to resign on allegations of corruption in Sha.

"Where there is money, the scams follow. Health centers have been cooperating with theft gangs to rob patients through the digital health system, where users can monitor their information; these gangs no longer have a chance to enrich themselves through patients," added the minister.

In Kakamega, Mr Duale denied possession of any company that offers Shadi, and called on the politicians accusing him of, led by Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna, to testify of their claims."I am ready to come before any investigative body to explain and defend all my property," he said, emphasizing that he has committed to reforming the health sector in the country.

 Duale announced that the government is in the process of repaying all the debts owed by individuals and health care providers under the existing National Health Insurance (NHIF) program, where a total of Sh30 billion has been allocated to repay the debt.

Speaking while launching the National-Care project in Kakamega County, Minister Duale said a total of Sh5.3 billion is owed by individuals, with 92 percent of the total NHIF debt being less than Sh10 million."We are waiting for the Ministry of Finance to submit an additional budget so that the Ministry of Health can get the money needed to repay these debts," said Mr Duale.

He explained that the debt of more than Sh10 million would be reviewed by the force appointed by the Ministry of Health before the payment was approved. Kakamega Governor, Fernandes Barasa, confirmed that hospitals in the county had already started receiving money from Sha.

However, he called on the ministry to speed up the process so that health care would not be affected. "Kakamega County has more than 1.9 million people, and we have already registered more than Sh800 million through Sha. But we have a debt of Sh293 million, which is important to be paid," said Mr Barasa.