Murang’a Governor Irungu Kang’ata alleged on Wednesday that the national government had deliberately cut off the county’s automated health platform, sparking a dispute over the digital health transition.

Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale issued a press statement on Thursday stating the Ministry of Health does not own, control, or manage the Afya Ke system and has not turned it off.

According to Duale, the platform is a private contractual arrangement between Murang’a County and third‑party developers, not a Ministry‑run service.

The governor claimed the Digital Health Authority, the Ministry of Health and the Social Health Authority collectively refused to certify Afya Ke for unified health information exchange, forcing hospitals onto the national SHA Tibabu network.

Duale countered that neither the county executive nor the private developers ever submitted an application for certification to the Digital Health Agency, so no regulatory decision was made.

The Ministry warned the governor against statements that could cause public anxiety among patients and health workers.

It also assured Murang’a residents that all beneficiaries of the Social Health Authority will continue to receive care without interruption through the state‑administered SHA structures.