No timeline, no payouts: Duale under fire over stalled EduAfya claims
Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale has come under pressure after admitting that pending claims under the defunct EduAfya medical scheme remain unpaid—with no clear timeline for settlement.
Appearing before the Senate on Wednesday, Mr Duale acknowledged that a number of claims are still outstanding, attributing the delays to verification processes, administrative challenges and budgetary constraints.
His response came after a question by Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna, who sought clarity on delayed compensation and the fate of affected beneficiaries.
‘We are verifying’—but for how long?
Mr Duale told senators that the Ministry is undertaking a “comprehensive reconciliation and validation exercise” to determine legitimate claims before payments can be made.
He assured the House that all verified claims would eventually be settled.
However, he did not provide:
- A timeline
- The total value of pending claims
- Or when affected families and service providers can expect payment.
That omission is likely to fuel concern among beneficiaries who have waited years for compensation.
By citing budget constraints, the CS effectively confirmed that financing gaps are part of the delay—raising questions about how the scheme was managed and whether sufficient funds were set aside.
The EduAfya programme, which targeted school-going children, has since been replaced under broader health financing reforms.
But senators warned that unresolved claims risk undermining public confidence in new government-backed health schemes.
Transition blamed, but pressure mounts
CS Duale pointed to administrative challenges during the transition from EduAfya, saying the experience has informed current reforms aimed at improving efficiency and oversight.
He added that the Ministry is strengthening systems to prevent similar delays under new frameworks.
Still, the lack of a firm payment plan leaves a critical question unanswered: When will those already owed finally be paid?
The standoff over EduAfya claims is emerging as a test of the government’s commitment to health sector reforms.
With Kenya pushing for universal health coverage, delays in settling past obligations could erode trust in the system.
For now, the government has acknowledged the debt—but not the deadline.
And for many affected families, that uncertainty is the real crisis.
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