NAIROBI – Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale has announced the closure of 1,400 private hospitals over fraudulent claims under the Social Health Authority (SHA). He warned that any facility found misusing government funds meant for healthcare will face immediate action, regardless of ownership.
Speaking Friday at Githogoro Grounds during the launch of the Integrated Measles-Rubella and Typhoid Conjugate Vaccine Campaign, Duale said the crackdown is aimed at protecting public funds and restoring confidence in Kenya’s healthcare system.
“If we find you defrauding Kenyans, your license will be canceled. I don’t care who owns the hospital,” Duale stated. “Even if we are left with 20 honest facilities, that’s better than keeping 2,000 that are corrupt.”
The CS said investigations revealed cases of hospitals submitting inflated claims far beyond their actual capacity. In one case, a facility owned by a sitting Member of Parliament claimed to conduct more surgeries than Kenyatta National Hospital, the country’s largest referral center.
Duale emphasized that under the SHA, primary healthcare at dispensaries, health centers, and sub-county hospitals is free for registered members. He urged Kenyans to report any cases of corruption or service denial by dialing the toll-free number *147#.
“If you go to a registered facility and are asked to pay for primary care, report it. We will act,” he warned. “The system must serve people, not profit.”
To ease access to the national health scheme, Duale announced the introduction of SHA Lipa Pole Pole, a flexible payment plan designed to reduce the financial burden on low-income families. The government has allocated KSh 13 billion to support the program and ensure no Kenyan is turned away from public health services.
During the same event, Duale launched the national campaign targeting children between 9 months and 14 years with Measles-Rubella and Typhoid Conjugate Vaccines. The drive runs from July 1 to 14 across Kenya. According to the Ministry of Health, the vaccines are free and available at all public health centers and outreach posts.
“Typhoid continues to harm thousands, especially in informal settlements and rural areas,” he said. “Drug-resistant strains have made treatment more expensive and difficult prevention is our best weapon.”
Duale also raised concern about low uptake of the second dose of the Measles-Rubella vaccine. Between January 2024 and February 2025, the country recorded 2,978 measles cases and 18 related deaths. The new campaign seeks to close that gap and reach children in hard-to-access areas.
The CS praised Community Health Promoters (CHPs), reporting that more than 80,000 households had already been reached under the SHA rollout. He promised timely payments to the CHPs, calling them “the heart of our health system.”
The event was attended by top health officials, lawmakers, and international partners. Duale thanked organizations including WHO, UNICEF, Gavi, and PATH Kenya for logistical and technical support.
He concluded by urging the public to stay vigilant and demand accountability as the government reshapes healthcare delivery under SHA.
“Corruption in healthcare isn’t just theft it’s an attack on the lives
