The healthcare sector marked a significant transition on April 1, 2025, as Dr. Deborah Mlongo Barasa officially handed over the Ministry of Health to Hon. Aden Duale after an eight-month tenure. The event, held in Nairobi, highlighted key milestones in the country’s healthcare reforms.
During her tenure, Dr. Barasa spearheaded major reforms, including the enactment of four critical health laws, such as the Social Health Insurance Act and Digital Health Act, aimed at strengthening Universal Health Coverage (UHC). She noted that Social Health Insurance (SHI) membership surged by 163%, reaching 21 million members, while the Social Health Authority (SHA) collected KES. 31.6 billion, with KES. 24 billion allocated for healthcare claims.
“These reforms have created a strong foundation for affordable and accessible healthcare,” Dr. Barasa remarked. “With the implementation of SHA, we have ensured that more Kenyans can access quality healthcare without financial strain.”
Other achievements include the training of 107,000 community health promoters, expansion of digital health systems, and restructuring of the National Equipment Service Programme, which enabled agreements with 45 counties to equip over 500 healthcare facilities. Kenya also boosted local medical supply production, with over 60% of KEMSA’s medical products sourced locally.
In her farewell remarks, Dr. Barasa expressed confidence in the Ministry’s ability to handle disease outbreaks and commended healthcare workers for their dedication. “The Ministry is well-prepared to respond to emerging health challenges, and I am proud of the progress we have made together,” she stated.
Taking over the role, CS Aden Duale outlined his vision, aligning health reforms with the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA). He emphasized the importance of streamlining the SHA system to address inefficiencies seen in the former NHIF structure.
“The Social Health Authority will be a game-changer in eliminating fraud and ensuring that resources are used efficiently,” Duale asserted.
He also vowed to resolve union disputes, improve healthcare access for the underprivileged, and foster competition between public and private providers to enhance service delivery.
“The government is committed to ensuring that Universal Health Coverage remains a priority,” Duale stated, urging stakeholders to support SHA’s implementation.
The event was attended by Ministry officials, including Principal Secretaries Mary Muthoni and Harry Kimtai, Health Director-General Dr. Patrick Amoth, and other senior staff.
