Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale has defended the recent appointment of senior county officials at the Social Health Authority (SHA), maintaining that the recruitment process followed merit-based criteria and proceeded without any political influence.
Speaking on Saturday at Garissa High School during the handover of a new school bus, Duale said he had no role in the hiring process and did not interfere with the decisions made by the authority’s leadership.
The appointments have, however, ignited widespread public debate after reports indicated that individuals from just two communities filled nearly half of the available positions. A physical count shows that of the 47 officials deployed to counties as SHA County Operations Managers, 22 come from two communities, while the remaining posts are shared among other groups.
The disclosures triggered intense discussion on social media, with many Kenyans questioning whether the recruitment complied with constitutional requirements on equity, inclusiveness, and regional balance as provided for under Article 10 of the Constitution.
While acknowledging public concerns, Duale said the debate must also take into account long-standing imbalances in public service recruitment. He pointed out that multiple official reports have previously documented historical disparities in public sector employment.
Despite expressing confidence in the SHA board and management, the Health CS said he would seek a comprehensive briefing to understand how the recruitment exercise was conducted.
“Every Kenyan will be given an opportunity by the Social Health Authority based on their competence and qualification. And in employing these Kenyans, Article 10 and the public service guidelines will be considered to make sure all regions, all communities, all religions and all genders are given equal opportunity,” said the Health CS.
Duale further said that addressing historical imbalances remains a constitutional obligation, not a personal position.
“We must correct historical injustices. And that is not me saying, it is in the Public Service Commission audit, it is in the National Cohesion and Integration Commission report…that over years, there was imbalance in the public service sector employment.”
He reiterated that independent boards and management teams oversee recruitment at SHA and other health institutions, including Kenyatta National Hospital, but assured Kenyans that their concerns would not be ignored.
“I don’t interfere with how SHA recruits, or how Kenyatta National Hospital recruits. They have boards and management, but the concerns of Kenyans will be addressed. And as a minister, the buck stops with me. On Monday I will call both the board and management of SHA to take me through (the recruitment process)…and I have confidence in the entire leadership.”
The Health CS said the forthcoming briefing would help clarify the process and reinforce public confidence in SHA’s leadership as the authority continues to roll out health services across the country.
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