Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale has come out strongly in support of Dr. Patrick Amoth, the Director General for Health, amid growing speculation that the DG has been marginalised within the Ministry of Health.
Speaking before Parliament’s Health Committee on Wednesday, Duale made it clear: Dr. Amoth is not only still relevant he’s central to the ministry’s work.
“When I took over the ministry just over a month ago, I reviewed the Health Act and found that the DG’s office wasn’t being fully utilised,” Duale told MPs. “That’s changing.”
He explained that, under Sections 16 and 17 of the Health Act, the Director General is the government’s chief technical health adviser. To reinforce this, Duale convened a meeting with ministry directors and Principal Secretaries, where he affirmed Dr. Amoth’s leadership role over all technical divisions.
“There’s a narrative that the DG has no real function. That’s simply not true,” Duale said. “Everyone in the ministry, including myself, has a legally defined role. The DG’s authority isn’t optional it’s grounded in law.”
While reaffirming Dr. Amoth’s technical oversight, Duale also clarified how responsibilities are shared. He will focus on policy, while Principal Secretary Dr. Ouma Oluga and other senior officials will manage budgeting and day-to-day operations.
Duale’s remarks aim to put to rest internal tensions and confusion over the chain of command while ensuring that legal mandates are respected across the board.
