Third Force Politicians Demand Duale’s Resignation Over SHA Scandal

Third Force Politician in Busia County/HANDOUT

A new political grouping made up of young and youthful Members of Parliament is mounting pressure on Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale to resign over the Social Health Authority (SHA) scandal.

The bloc, which styles itself as a Third Force ahead of the 2027 elections, says it represents a fresh alternative to Kenya Kwanza and Azimio by pushing a youth-driven political agenda that transcends traditional party loyalties.

Led by Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna, the lawmakers accused Duale of presiding over massive fraud in the medical scheme, which they said has left millions of Kenyans unable to access healthcare.

“Those who are in the health department starting from the CS must be removed because we gave them more time but they failed,” Sifuna said while in Busia County.

Githunguri MP Gathoni Wamuchomba noted that the group would begin mobilizing signatures for Duale’s ouster.

“We are going to start collecting signatures to remove Duale because he has failed women in Kenya,” she said.

A file image of Health CS, Aden Duale/HANDOUT

Embakasi East MP Babu Owino also weighed in, accusing health officials of looting SHA funds.

“People go to the hospital and are told SHA is not working because this money is being looted,” he said.

The Third Force politicians have threatened to initiate impeachment proceedings if Duale fails to step down within 48 hours.

But Duale has stood his ground, dismissing the calls as politically motivated. Speaking at a public event on Friday, Duale said the government had suspended 133 hospitals implicated in misappropriating SHA funds, insisting reforms were targeting systemic fraud rather than individuals.

“Those who oppose me are telling me to resign, while others say I have closed their hospitals. Someone tells me, ‘Duale resign,’ but I have closed three of their hospitals,” Duale said.

He added that the closures had been gazetted and were part of President William Ruto’s push to clean up the health sector.

Kenya Kwanza lawmakers have rallied behind Duale, accusing the new political bloc of playing politics with healthcare while pledging to continue the government’s fight against corruption.