Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale appearing before the National Assembly Departmental Committee on Health alongside SHA CEO Dr Mercy Mwangangi, October 29, 2025. /ADEN DUALE/XHealth Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale has appealed to Parliament to support increased funding for key health programmes and fast-track the settlement of the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) legacy debt to stabilise the sector.
Appearing before the National Assembly Departmental Committee on Health chaired by James Nyikal (MP, Seme), Duale said the ministry is seeking enhanced allocations to the Primary Healthcare Fund (PHCF) and the Emergency, Chronic and Critical Illness Fund (ECCIF).
He said the two funds are essential in ensuring equitable access to basic health services and cushioning patients with long-term conditions.
“The Primary Healthcare Fund is the backbone of preventive and promotive care at the community level. We are appealing for additional resources to strengthen this system and improve service delivery across counties,” Duale told the committee.
He further noted that the ministry is working closely with the National Treasury and relevant agencies to resolve the NHIF legacy debt, which has hindered smooth transition to the new Social Health Authority (SHA).
The CS said the settlement of the outstanding obligations is crucial for restoring financial stability and ensuring continuity of health insurance services.
Duale was responding to the committee’s October 2025 Fact-Finding Report on the Social Health Authority, which highlighted operational challenges within the ongoing health financing reforms.
He said the ministry had already implemented several measures to address the identified gaps and strengthen accountability.
He reported that the Kenya Medical Supplies Authority (Kemsa) has improved its order fill rate from 32 per cent to 67 per cent and cut county drug delivery timelines from 33 days to 12.
“Our target is to achieve full (100 per cent) supply coverage to guarantee timely access to essential medicines across the country,” he said.
On maternal health, Duale outlined progress achieved through the Maternal and Perinatal Death Surveillance and Response (MPDSR) system and adoption of digital health tools that enhance data collection, facility readiness and patient management.
He also announced that the ministry is set to launch an Ambulance Evacuation Services Benefit alongside the National Ambulance Dispatch Centre (NADC) to provide a coordinated and cashless emergency response network.
Duale said the ministry’s interventions are guided by 18 observations and 14 recommendations adopted from the committee’s report, aimed at improving service efficiency and reinforcing oversight in healthcare delivery.
The CS appeared before the committee accompanied by Principal Secretary for Public Health and Professional Standards Mary Muthoni, Director General for Health Dr Patrick Amoth, and chief executives Dr Mercy Mwangangi (SHA), Eng Anthony Lenayara (DHA), and Dr David Kariuki (KMPDC).
