Duale Breaks Silence on UHC Demos, Dismisses Claims Government Ignored Issues

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Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale on Tuesday distanced the Ministry of Health from claims that the government had ignored concerns raised by protesters during the January 27 Universal Health Coverage (UHC) demonstrations.

Speaking amid growing political commentary around the protests, Duale said the government had already engaged extensively with stakeholders and addressed the substantive issues related to UHC implementation.

The CS revealed that the ministry was unable to establish the identities of leaders behind the demonstrations, noting that investigations had not yielded clear organisers or sponsors.

He further stated that it was equally difficult to verify whether those who took to the streets were registered members or beneficiaries under the UHC programme.

According to Duale, the lack of clarity raised questions about the credibility and intent of the protests.

He suggested that some individuals involved were habitual demonstrators who frequently participate in protests regardless of the issue at hand.

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“There are people who are simply used to demonstrations,” Duale remarked, adding that not every protest necessarily reflects genuine public dissatisfaction.

The Health CS maintained that the government remains committed to constructive dialogue and policy engagement rather than confrontational politics.

He reiterated that the Ministry of Health has held consultations with healthcare workers, county governments, unions and other stakeholders to iron out challenges encountered during the rollout of UHC reforms.

Duale defended the progress made so far, citing administrative adjustments and policy clarifications that have been implemented to improve service delivery and address operational gaps.

He urged Kenyans to rely on official communication channels and verified information instead of what he termed as misleading narratives spread through demonstrations and social media campaigns.

At the same time, the CS acknowledged that large scale reforms such as UHC are bound to face teething problems, stressing that the government is open to feedback grounded in facts and proposals.

However, he warned against politicising healthcare, saying it risks derailing a programme intended to guarantee affordable and accessible healthcare for all citizens.