Kenya Minute.
Sunday, 13 September 2026
Kenya’s news, on the hour · Est. 2026
Sunday, 13 September 2026
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Kenyan press · Person

Aden Duale

Also known as: Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale · Health CS Aden Duale · CS Aden Duale · Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale · Attorney General and Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale · CS Duale · Health Minister Aden Duale · Mr Duale · Cabinet Secretary Hon. Aden Duale · Health Cabinet Secretary Duale · Defence Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale · the vocal CS

Health Cabinet Secretary who oversees healthcare policy, pharmacy standards, and pharmaceutical agreements in Kenya.

2026-04-242026-09-13

In coverage

Verbatim sentences from the source article.

  1. August 2026
  2. The Standard

    Treating her docket as a licence to command across departments, she rode roughshod over Articles 245 and 246 on police independence and revealed how officials treat portfolios as personal fiefdoms rather than constitutional mandates.CS Aden Duale's past remarks about Eastleigh op

    Architecture of patronage and political rewards is holding Kenya hostage
  3. The Standard

    Audio By VocalizeDCP leader Rigathi Gachagua and delegates from Isiolo and Marsabit at Wamunyoro, Nyeri County on August 25, 2026. [Ali Abdi, Standard] Democracy for Citizen Party (DCP) Leader Rigathi Gachagua has accused Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale of allegedly doing not

    Gachagua to Duale: You don't own pastoralists
  4. The Standard

    Audio By Vocalize Kenya records an average of 16,675 dengue cases annually, with the Coastal region remaining a major hotspot for transmission, Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale says.

    Duale: Kenya records 16,675 Dengue cases annually
  5. The Standard

    Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale and Homa Bay Town MP Opondo Kaluma are some of the senior leaders in the country who have openly shown some defiance towards NCIC summons recently.

    NCIC a toothless Bulldog?
  6. The Standard

    Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale and Homa Bay Town MP Opondo Kaluma are some of the senior leaders in the country who have openly shown some defiance towards NCIC summons recently.

    Is NCIC a toothless Bulldog?
  7. The Standard

    The two argued that in effect, the Aden Duale-led ministry was usurping the powers of the Kipchumba Murkomen-led one to determine who enters the country or not.“The directive is ostensibly ultra vires as the 3rd Respondent is purporting to direct the second respondent on the func

    Court halts insurance cover requirement for tourists coming to Kenya
  8. The Standard

    The controversy follows Gazette Notice No. 11492, issued by Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale, requiring foreign nationals entering Kenya for stays of less than 12 months to obtain a valid travel health insurance policy linked to the country’s Electronic Travel Authorisation (e

    Billions at Stake as Kenya's Mandatory Visitor Health Insurance Faces Legal Challenge
  9. The Standard

    Audio By VocalizeMombasa Governor Abdulswamad Shariff Nassir, DP Kithure Kindiki and Health CS Aden Duale during the Health Summit at KICC, on August 19, 2026.

    Kindiki acknowledges counties' role in delivery of successful health reforms
  10. Capital News

    The session, chaired by Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale and moderated by Principal Secretary for Medical Services Dr Ouma Oluga, brought together Tharaka Nithi Governor Muthomi Njuki, Makueni Governor Mutula Kilonzo, Healthcare Federation Chairman Dr Kanyenje Gakombe, AGC Ten

    From 40% to the 90s: How KEMSA is rewriting Kenya’s health supply chain
  11. Citizen Digital

    The NCIC has summoned leaders linked to making seditious remarks, among them former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, Homa Bay Town MP Peter Kaluma, Cabinet Secretaries Aden Duale (Health) and Geoffrey Ruku (Public Service) and others.

    Vocal Africa wants ICC to put Kenya on watch ahead of 2027 election

Yesterday

  1. Rival groups clash at United Opposition rally in Garissa

    Youths pelted opposition leaders' vehicles with stones as a United Opposition rally in Garissa descended into chaos on Saturday. Wiper Patriotic Front leader Kalonzo Musyoka and DP leader Justin Muturi condemned the incident, with Musyoka accusing Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale of orchestrating the disruption.

    12 September 2026 · Citizen Digital

Wednesday 9 September

  1. Kenya partners with Italian firm to build 15 hospitals

    Kenya has signed a partnership with Italian firm GKSD Group to develop 15 new hospitals across the country, comprising 13 Level 5 county referral hospitals and two Level 6 national teaching and referral hospitals. The agreement, signed at State House Nairobi and witnessed by President Ruto, is part of the Government of Italy's Mattei Plan for Africa partnership framework.

    9 September 2026 · Citizen Digital

  2. Ruto allocates Sh19 billion for eleven Bomet roads project

    President William Ruto launched a four-day South Rift tour, announcing Sh19 billion allocated to Bomet County for construction of eleven roads covering 380km. He also launched projects including Itembe Airstrip inspection, road construction, a market, and electricity connectivity, while claiming 80 per cent implementation of his 2022 campaign pledges.

    9 September 2026 · The Standard

Monday 7 September

  1. Pharmacists protest new rules limiting Level 3-4 practice

    The Kenya Pharmaceutical Association and Kenya National Union of Pharmaceutical Technologists have threatened strike action over new Pharmacy and Poisons Board guidelines that restrict pharmacists without degree-level qualifications from practising in Level 3 and 4 health facilities. The associations say the rules are discriminatory and could damage healthcare operations as pharmacists constitute over 70 per cent of all healthcare practitioners.

    7 September 2026 · The Standard

Sunday 6 September

  1. CS Duale urges IEBC focus on credible 2027 election

    Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale has urged the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission to execute its mandate under legal guidelines and remain focused on delivering a credible 2027 General Election, emphasizing transparency in procurement and strict adherence to the Public Finance Management Act.

    6 September 2026 · Citizen Digital

  2. PPB calls for stricter safety standards on traditional medicines

    The Pharmacy and Poisons Board has called for stronger quality assurance, safety monitoring and scientific research to ensure traditional medicines used in Kenya are safe, effective and of consistent quality, emphasizing accurate dosing, standardised production and clear product labelling.

    6 September 2026 · The Standard

  3. Duale urges IEBC to ignore political pressure ahead of 2027 election

    Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale has called on the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission to resist political pressure and focus on delivering a free, fair and credible 2027 General Election, emphasizing that the stability and democratic values of the country depend on how the electoral agency prepares and conducts its work.

    6 September 2026 · The Standard

Friday 4 September

  1. Health CS defends 2026 pharmacy standards against diploma holder protests

    The Ministry of Health has defended the 2026 Good Pharmacy Practice Standards following demonstrations by diploma-holding pharmacy professionals. Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale stated that the standards distinguish between pharmacy professionals and facility superintendents, and do not bar diploma or degree holders from practising provided they are duly registered, enrolled, and licensed within their respective legal scope.

    4 September 2026 · Citizen Digital

Thursday 3 September

  1. Kenya targets 2028 for traditional medicine mainstream integration

    Kenya has set 2028 as the target to integrate evidence-based traditional medicine into the mainstream healthcare system, with Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale stating the government will not create a parallel system but bring traditional, complementary, and modern medicine together under one healthcare framework, provided traditional practices meet safety, quality, and effectiveness standards. The integration will be guided by the National Traditional Complementary Intervention Medicine Policy, which the Ministry of Health is finalizing and will present to Cabinet for approval after nationwide public participation.

    3 September 2026 · The Standard

Tuesday 1 September

  1. Kenya expands infant screening for sickle cell disease

    Kenya is stepping up universal infant screening for sickle cell disease, with an estimated 250,000 people living with the condition nationwide and about 14,000 children born with it each year. Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale said the government is expanding screening, strengthening comprehensive care, and training health workers to support early diagnosis and treatment.

    1 September 2026 · Capital News

  2. Kenya secures Pfizer deal cutting cancer drug prices sevenfold

    President Ruto announced a government agreement with Pfizer that will slash prices of medicines for breast, stomach, colon, lung, prostate, and oesophageal cancers, as well as leukaemia, lymphoma, and multiple myeloma, by more than seven times in some cases — reducing treatment cycle costs from up to Sh1 million to below Sh50,000. The deal, signed with the Kenya Medical Supplies Authority, aims to ease patients' financial burden and accelerate access to newer cancer treatments.

    1 September 2026 · Capital News

  3. Only nine counties remitting health contributions on time

    Nine of 47 counties are meeting the statutory deadline to remit Social Health Insurance Fund contributions by the ninth of each month, while 38 non-compliant counties have accumulated Sh418 million in unpaid contributions and Sh13.6 million in penalties, according to Social Health Authority data presented by Health CS Aden Duale.

    1 September 2026 · The Standard

  4. Public Service CS Ruku appears before NCIC over hate speech

    Public Service Cabinet Secretary Geoffrey Ruku appeared before the National Cohesion and Integration Commission on Tuesday to answer allegations of hate speech and incitement linked to inflammatory statements made during public engagements. The commission will deliver a determination next week on separate hate speech claims against Busia Governor Paul Otuoma and Homa Bay Town MP Peter Kaluma.

    1 September 2026 · The Standard

Monday 31 August

  1. Kenya and Pfizer agree to cut cancer drug prices

    President Ruto announced a deal with Pfizer that will reduce the cost of medicines for nine cancers — including breast, stomach, colon, lung, prostate, oesophageal cancers, leukaemia, lymphoma, and multiple myeloma — by more than seven times, with some drugs falling from about Ksh.1 million to under Ksh.50,000 per cycle.

    31 August 2026 · Citizen Digital

  2. Wamuchomba threatens Mt Kenya defection over hate speech arrests

    Githunguri MP Gathoni Wamuchomba has threatened that Mt Kenya region leaders will withdraw support for President Ruto if nominated MP Joseph Wainaina and Health CS Aden Duale are not arrested for alleged hate speech utterances. She warned defection will occur if the demand is not met within three days.

    31 August 2026 · Citizen Digital

  3. Government allocates Sh396 million for CHPs health cover

    The government has released Sh396 million to the Social Health Authority to provide health cover for all 107,800 Community Health Promoters and their families, following President Ruto's pledge to protect frontline healthcare workers. The cover allows CHPs to access health services from Level 2 hospitals up to Level 6 referral hospitals.

    31 August 2026 · The Standard

  4. Health CS blames counties for UHC staff salary delays

    Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale attributed delayed September salaries for Universal Health Coverage staff to counties' refusal to integrate payroll systems, saying about 12 counties resisted establishing a sustainable payroll mechanism for 7,786 UHC workers. Duale said the ministry has no funds to pay the staff unless counties add them to their payrolls or the ministry receives direct transfers.

    31 August 2026 · The Standard

Sunday 30 August

  1. Healthcare interns announce strike over unpaid salaries

    Thousands of healthcare interns—including medical officers, dentists, pharmacists, nurses and clinical officers—have threatened to strike from August 31, 2026, over delayed salaries. The interns say the Ministry of Health failed to honour its commitment to pay them by July 25, leaving many struggling to afford basic needs.

    30 August 2026 · The Standard

Saturday 29 August

  1. Nairobi Hospital board reconstituted with Onyambu as chairman

    The Kenya Hospital Association has reconstituted The Nairobi Hospital's Board of Management following its August 25 Annual General Meeting, with Dr Barcley Onyambu re-elected as chairman. The new 11-member board includes Samson Mbuthia Kinyanjui as vice chairman and Dr Agnes Gachoki as chairperson of the Medical Advisory Committee.

    29 August 2026 · Capital News

Tuesday 25 August

  1. Gachagua accuses Duale of fomenting ethnic division before 2027

    Democracy for Citizens Party leader Rigathi Gachagua has accused Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale of engaging in divisive politics targeting Kikuyu and Somali communities ahead of the 2027 General Election. Gachagua said the two communities have enjoyed a long-standing relationship, particularly in Eastleigh, and warned against attempts to create divisions between them.

    25 August 2026 · Citizen Digital

  2. Opinion: Cabinet posts awarded for loyalty, not competence

    An editorial argues that Kenya's Cabinet Secretary positions are being filled as political rewards for partisan fidelity rather than expertise, with vetting by the National Assembly reduced to a "choreographed ritual of deference," resulting in administrative blunders and institutional decay.

    25 August 2026 · The Standard

  3. Gachagua accuses Health CS Duale of neglecting pastoralist communities

    DCP leader Rigathi Gachagua has accused Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale of doing nothing for pastoralist communities despite being the only CS from northern Kenya, saying Duale has been a liability to the group and calling on residents from Isiolo and Marsabit to vote out the government in the 2027 general election.

    25 August 2026 · The Standard

  4. Kenya records 16,675 dengue cases annually, coastal region vulnerable

    Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale reports Kenya averages 16,675 dengue cases annually, with the Coastal region remaining a major hotspot. Poor sanitation, inadequate waste management, and unsafe water storage practices contribute to mosquito breeding and dengue transmission.

    25 August 2026 · The Standard

Monday 24 August

  1. NCIC faces scrutiny over enforcement against high-profile individuals

    The National Cohesion and Integration Commission is under pressure over how it will handle senior leaders accused of making inflammatory remarks ahead of the 2027 general election, with figures including former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale, and Homa Bay Town MP Opondo Kaluma reportedly defying NCIC summons.

    24 August 2026 · The Standard

  2. NCIC struggles to enforce summons against senior political figures

    The National Cohesion and Integration Commission faces scrutiny over its ability to compel high-profile individuals accused of inflammatory remarks to appear for questioning, with former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale, and Homa Bay Town MP Opondo Kaluma among those who have recently defied NCIC summons.

    24 August 2026 · The Standard

  3. High Court blocks mandatory insurance cover for Kenya tourists

    The High Court has blocked the government from requiring insurance cover from tourists visiting Kenya, ruling that the Ministry of Health's directive contradicted the Ministry of Interior's authority over foreign nationals' entry and that no proper mechanism exists to handle the requirement.

    24 August 2026 · The Standard

Friday 21 August

  1. Kenya's mandatory visitor health insurance scheme faces legal challenge

    Kenya's requirement for foreign visitors to hold mandatory health insurance worth at least 50,000 US dollars has triggered legal and accountability concerns, with lawyers questioning whether the scheme complies with health and data protection laws and whether the Department of Immigration Services has the authority to design health insurance benefit structures.

    21 August 2026 · The Standard

Thursday 20 August

  1. Kindiki stresses county role in Kenya's health reforms

    Deputy President Kithure Kindiki called for stronger coordination between national and county governments to deliver effective health reforms and Universal Health Coverage, emphasizing that counties manage frontline facilities and that system failures in any component immediately affect patient care.

    20 August 2026 · The Standard

Wednesday 19 August

  1. KEMSA raises medicine availability from 40% to over 90% in public facilities

    The Kenya Medical Supplies Authority has increased its order fill rate from about 40 per cent in 2022 to more than 90 per cent by redesigning its approach around demand, efficiency, predictability, technology and data. KEMSA CEO Dr Waqo Ejersa said the authority consulted stakeholders to understand what health facilities actually needed, moving beyond simply managing nearly 3,800 Stock Keeping Units.

    19 August 2026 · Capital News

  2. Human rights group asks ICC to monitor Kenya ahead of 2027 election

    Vocal Africa has written to the ICC's Office of the Prosecutor, warning that Kenya's political, security and human rights spheres are deteriorating ahead of the 2027 General Election, citing rising ethnic tensions, political incitement, goon mobilisation, and alleged police involvement in violence.

    19 August 2026 · Citizen Digital

Aden Duale — Kenyan press coverage · Kenya Minute