The new Cabinet Secretary for Health, Aden Duale, has moved to dismiss the criticism directed at him ahead of his tenure at the Afya House.
The Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU) on Saturday, March 29, 2025, raised concerns over President William Ruto’s appointment of Aden Duale to the Ministry of Health, arguing that the position requires a technocrat rather than a politician.
KMPDU Deputy Secretary General Dennis Miskellah expressed disappointment with Duale’s appointment, noting that previous appointments of politicians to the crucial health docket had resulted in dwindling performances in the ministry.
However, speaking to journalists as he officially assumed office on Tuesday, April 1, 2025, Duale shrugged off the objections, emphasizing that those propagating the claims have their own agendas.
Duale further detailed the past holders of the docket who were non-medical professionals.
“Was Susan Nakhumicha a doctor? In the last 20 years, only two doctors served at the top leadership of this ministry. Prof Anyang Nyong’ o was the minister for Medical Services. Beth Mugo was the minister for Medical Service. My good friend Kagwe was the minister. They were all politicians,” he said.
The CS reaffirmed his readiness to take on the task ahead, stressing that his role at the helm of the health docket will be a collaborative task with the advisory of other technocrats in the ministry and government entities.
“Those who are there have other agenda. I have a business to do here. I don’t do it alone. I do it with the help of men and women who work here; the cabinet, and the president’s advice, because my business is to advise the president and I work with parliament, which was my home for 16 years,” he stressed.
“Tell them that the minister for Infrastructure is not a road engineer. My sister (Deborah Barasa) is a medical doctor, not a climate and environment-trained person. So those are very pedestrian arguments,” Duale added.
While registerimg their reservations to Duale’s appointment, the medics body did welcome the appointment of a former staff of their own in Ouma Oluga.
The medical officer is among those nominated by President William Ruto and is set to take over as the Principal Secretary in the State Department for Medical Services.
In a statement issued by KMPDU Deputy Secretary-General Dennis Miskellah on Thursday night, March 20, 2025, the union praised the nominated PS for his dedication, leadership, and commitment to healthcare reforms.
“On behalf of the Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists, and Dentists Union (KMPDU), we extend our warmest congratulations on your well-deserved appointment as the Principal Secretary in the State Department for Medical Services,” Miskellah stated.
Duale’s sentiments mirror those of Wilson Sossion, a Trade Unionist and former nominated MP who argued that leadership skills supersede possessing relevant academic credentials for a cabinet position
In an interview, Sossion claimed CSs can leverage the knowledge of professionals within their ministerial departments.
“It is not necessarily that the minister for education must be a teacher or the health minister must have a background in the health sector. Below the minister, there are technocrats like PS, directors, and the rest. Every ministry is rich with relevant technical technocrats, so a minister doesn’t necessarily need to have a specific qualification in that docket,” he contended.