Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale has vowed to tighten safeguards against corruption and profiteering during Kenya’s ongoing Ebola response, warning that individuals seeking to exploit the public health crisis for personal gain will not be tolerated.
Speaking during the commissioning of a new maternity wing at Uruku Health Centre in Meru County, Duale said the Ministry of Health had instituted strict controls to prevent the misuse of public funds, drawing lessons from alleged corruption and irregularities witnessed during Kenya’s COVID-19 response.
The CS referenced the controversial ‘COVID Billionaires’ scandal, in which individuals and business networks were accused of benefiting improperly from public funds during the pandemic.
Duale said the government would not allow unscrupulous business people or rogue public officials to exploit the Ebola situation for financial gain, stressing the need to protect public resources and ensure that emergency funds serve their intended purpose.
In an emotional personal reflection, the Health CS revealed that his mother died of COVID-19, saying the loss reinforced his determination to ensure that public health emergencies are not turned into opportunities for profiteering.
He maintained that protecting lives and safeguarding public funds must remain the government’s priority as the country strengthens its response to the Ebola threat.
Turning to politics, Duale defended Deputy President Kithure Kindiki, urging residents of the larger Meru region to respect him and recognise his position in the national leadership.
The CS described Kindiki as a strategic political asset for the region, which he said stretches from River Thiuci to Ntonyiri.
Using a local proverb, Duale cautioned residents against abandoning an existing political advantage in pursuit of uncertain alternatives, urging them to maintain their support for the Deputy President.
He also rallied support for President William Ruto ahead of the 2027 General Election, endorsing the continuation of the Ruto-Kindiki partnership.
Duale argued that the two leaders’ continued partnership would support economic growth, strengthen national security and advance the government’s universal health coverage agenda.
He further pointed to the administration’s investment in health infrastructure as part of its broader development agenda.
Duale was speaking during the official commissioning of a modern maternity wing at Uruku Health Centre, a facility constructed in partnership with the Safaricom M-PESA Foundation.
The new wing is expected to strengthen maternal and child healthcare services in the area by improving access to maternity care for expectant mothers and their newborns.
The commissioning comes as the government continues to pursue improvements in healthcare infrastructure and access to essential medical services across the country.
