The Ministry of Health is engulfed in a fresh KSh 11 billion scandal—just months after new systems were touted as “waterproof” against fraud.
Appearing before the National Assembly retreat in Naivasha, Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale laid bare how billions were siphoned through fictitious surgeries, inflated claims, and jaw-dropping fraud—including one patient in Kwale registered with 381 dependent children.
“The taxpayer lost KSh 11 billion between October 2024 and April 2025,” Duale disclosed, despite the Social Health Authority (SHA) being launched with promises of tight digital controls.
Forced C-Sections: “Go to Theatre, Don’t Push”
A disturbing pattern emerged: expectant mothers being forced into surgical deliveries to claim higher fees.
“Somebody wants to force a mother to a C-section when she can deliver normally just because they want a difference of KSh 20,000,” said Duale.
National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula echoed the concern:
“We used to hear doctors tell mothers to sukuma (push) during birth… Nowadays it’s just go to theatre. We want to go back to sukuma.”
Even more shocking—some of these surgeries never happened.
“We have one facility that told us they are doing C-sections, and when I visited, it had no theatre—yet it had 35 claims for C-sections,” Duale revealed.
“381 Children” & Other Brazen Fraud
Beyond forced surgeries, SHA was hit by blatant documentation fraud:
- One patient in Kwale County was registered with 381 dependent children.
- Mass fake claims were often filed by a single individual across multiple facilities.
- Duale confirmed the case has been handed to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI).
Crackdown: Deregistrations & Closures
Facing tough questions from MPs, Duale outlined actions taken:
- 22 doctors and 36 clinical officers deregistered from SHA.
- 1,118 health facilities shut down.
- Over 1,000 investigation files handed to the DCI in September 2024—though progress remains slow.
Mwingi West MP Charles Nguna pressed further: “How many people have been arrested so far?”
Duale responded: “DCI has promised to go after those who stole.”
Silver Lining? Over 29 Million Kenyans Registered
Despite the grim revelations, the ministry reported that over 29 million Kenyans have registered on SHA—suggesting significant public uptake of the new system, even as its financial integrity is questioned.
What Now?
The scandal raises urgent questions:
- How did fraud bypass the “waterproof” IT system?
- Will the DCI expedite arrests and prosecutions?
- Can SHA recover public trust after an KSh 11 billion loss in just half a year?
As investigations continue, millions of Kenyans await answers—and justice.
