NAIROBI, Kenya – The Ministry of Health (MOH) has clarified reports linking it to the closure of Murang’a County AfyaKe system.
In a statement released on Thursday, October 15, Health Cabinet Secretary (CS) Aden Duale explained that the Ministry of Health neight owns or controls the system.
“The Ministry of Health has not switched off the Afya Ke system. The Ministry neither owns, controls, nor manages the system, nor does it have the source code, contrary to the allegations. The system is a private arrangement between the County Government of Murang’a and its developers.
“The Digital Health Agency (DHA) has also not refused to certify the Afya Ke system. Neither the Afya Ke developers nor Murang’a County has applied for certification,” read the statement in part.
Murang’a County Governor Irungu Kang’ata claimed that MOH switched off the Afya Ke system in the county.
The CS urged the governor to refrain from making misleading statements that could misinform the public and cause unnecessary concern among residents and healthcare stakeholders.
He said MOH remains committed to supporting Murang’a County in advancing its digital health agenda, ensuring the public that all Social Health Authority (SHA) beneficiaries in the county will continue to access healthcare services without interruption via the established SHA systems.
“We remain committed to ensuring the continuity of healthcare services and supporting the effective implementation of digital health systems across all counties,” he added.
Irungu Kang’ata’s response to MOH statement
However, the governor dismissed the CS’s statement, terming it untrue.
“This is shocking. Totally untrue. How does it have a https://go.ke domain name?” Kang’ata posted on his social media handle.
Governor Kang’ata went ahead, claiming that other state departments, including Tharaka Nithi and Kitengela Govt hospitals, are using the AfyaKe system.
Addressing the media on Wednesday, October 14, the governor alleged that the closure of the system had disrupted healthcare services in the county, leaving healthcare workers unable to retrieve patients’ medical history.
He said the county government will be transitioning to a new system, warning that the process will require time to normalise operations.
According to the governor, since its launch in 2020, the county government has automated all healthcare services through the system, which increased revenue collection from KSh 80 million to KSh 800 million per year.
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