Drama unfolded in Parliament Buildings after a fiery exchange between Health Cabinet Secretary (CS) Aden Duale and Kitutu Chache South MP Anthony Kibagendi over the closure of two health facilities allegedly linked to the lawmaker.
Appearing before the Health Committee on October 14, CS Duale accused the MP of being “bitter” following the government’s decision to shut down the clinics, which he claimed were operating irregularly.
Duale said the Ministry had shut down hospitals linked to MP Kibagendi, adding that the legislator would have to face charges in a court of law.
“We will have you arrested, and you must answer to charges in the court of law,” Duale said.
CS Duale and MP Kibagendi Clash Over SHA, Hospital Closures
He further warned that more health facilities connected to politicians and senior officials could soon face closure as part of a wider crackdown on non-compliant establishments.
Kibagendi, however, dismissed the accusations, saying he does not own any hospitals.
The MP hit back at Duale, accusing him and his allies in the health Ministry of engaging in corruption and defrauding the Social Health Authority (SHA).
“I do not own any hospital, even a dispensary,” Kibangedi said.
Also Read: Private Hospitals Halt SHA Cover, Demand Cash From Patients
Kibagendi Denies Owning Hospitals
On September 4, during an interview on NTV’s Fixing the Nation program, MP Kibagendi denied owning any hospital, describing the allegations as a propaganda campaign meant to discredit his outspoken stance against corruption within the Social Health Authority (SHA).
“I do not own a hospital. This is just propaganda because I have been hard on them since day one. I have been consistent since we started this conversation around March or April last year,” he said.
The MP said the false claims began circulating after he started demanding transparency and accountability in the use of funds at the Social Health Authority.
He pointed to a social media post that falsely linked him to Migori Medina Hospital, saying he has no connection to the facility.
He also expressed concern over suspicious payments made to certain facilities under the SHA, citing cases where little-known or even defunct hospitals received substantial amounts of money.
“A dispensary that was closed many years ago was cleared, painted, and flashed as though it had been operational just to justify payments,” Kibagendi said.
Also Read: SHA Unveils New Guidelines For Overseas Treatment, Sets Maximum Cash Govt Will Pay
Ministry of Health Under Scrutiny
The Ministry of Health has come under public scrutiny after claims emerged that funds were disbursed to non-existent, or “ghost,” hospitals under the SHA payouts.
Addressing the allegations, CS Duale dismissed claims that the Ministry was unaware of the irregular facilities, saying the government had already taken action against them.
“The facilities you found circulating on social media are facilities that majority of them were closed in May, some were suspended, some were downgraded. What Kenyans on social media are telling us is information that we already have,” Duale said.
“I want genuine Kenyans who come to us every day, who report to us every day, who have become our whistleblower and what they tell us is exactly what our system, our forensic auditors have picked.”
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