Duale Shuts Down Journalist Questioning Him over SHA Failures: "Turn Your Media into Health Centre"
- Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale held a press conference on Friday, August 8, during which he welcomed questions from journalists
- One reporter boldly put the CS on the spot, questioning him over the failures of the Social Health Authority (SHA)
- A video showing how the journalist remained persistent in his questions, triggering Duale's harsh response, has gone viral
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Faith Chandianya, a journalist at TUKO.co.ke, brings over three years of experience covering politics and Current Affairs in Kenya
Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale has gone viral for shutting down a question from a reporter during his press conference on Friday, August 8.
Source: Facebook
It also started when journalist Leon Lidigu from the Daily Nation questioned Duale about the contents of a letter he had in his possession.
"Waziri, I have a letter that was specifically sent to Doctor Mercy Mwangagi from August 7, and it is from the chairman of the Kenya Healthcare, Kanyenje Gakombe...," Lidigu said.
Did Duale refuse to respond to journalist's question?
Duale was quick to disrupt Lidigu before he could get his question across, saying that the Ministry of Health does not have the said letter.
"Let me stop you there. We do not have that letter. The person who wrote that letter has not told us he has given it to you. What I want to ask you is that, let that person officially go to the CEO's office," Duale interjected.
Persistent Lidigu was determined to ask his question regardless, but Duale wanted to hear none of it.
"Any other questions? No, no, any other question?" Duale was heard saying.
A man approached Lidigu, attempting to take the microphone away from him, but Lidigu was determined to get answers
The reporter managed to get Duale to listen to his question on the claims that SHA has not remitted funds to hospitals for the past nine months.
Why hasn't SHA remitted funds?
Duale, who was seemingly angry, responded by asking hospitals to report their problems to the SHA offices and not to use media houses to air their grievances.
He seemingly hinted that the medical facilities could be among those under investigation for being involved in fraudulent activities.
"Let me answer you, those facilities that have not been paid, let them go and engage SHA. They will be given the right answer if they are involved in fraudulent activities. If they are under investigation, they will be told. It's not them to address us through Nation Media," Duale said
"You are bringing patients to your media house, please turn Nation media into a health centre, we will register you. We will give you a SHA portal," he added.
Michael Makarina frustrated by SHA
In a previous incident, Meru politician Micheal Makarina narrated the troubles he went through before securing admission at the Aghakhan Hospital, where he had sought treatment.
Source: Facebook
He painfully recounted how SHA, President William Ruto's healthcare plan, failed him when he needed it the most.
The vocal politician decried that SHA was only willing to pay a small amount of money, thus making it difficult for him to be admitted.
It took the former Directorate of Criminal Investigations director, George Kinoti, to clear the entire admission fee for him to be finally admitted for extensive medical attention.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
