CS Nakhumicha Takes Action On NHIF Bosses After NTV Expose

Health Cabinet Secretary (CS) Susan Nakhumicha on Monday, June 19 suspended eight National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) hospital branch managers following an NTV expose which accused them of using underhand tactics to fool Kenyans.

Speaking to the media, Nakhumicha fired a warning to cartels accused of colluding with the branch managers to carry out the scheme.

Consequently, she directed the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) to work with the NHIF board to carry out investigations and submit a comprehensive report in seven days.

She also directed that the NHIF board takes the necessary action against staff suspected of colluding with the cartels to con unsuspecting victims.

"I wish to express my disappointment at the staff at my ministry who took part in this callous syndicate. I met with the NHIF board chair and instructed him to commence investigations, including inviting the whistleblower to share details regarding this heartless and ruthless cartel.

"I also asked the board to take action against culpable staff and directed a preliminary report be shared by the NHIF board within 48 hours," Nakhumicha ordered. 

Furthermore, she directed that immediate action be taken by the ministries divisions in charge of relations as well as submit a conclusive report.

"I have made a special request with EACC to liaise with NHIF to carry out investigations with the aim of finding out how these cartels siphon resources. This report should be availed within seven days.

"In my last message, I reiterated that hospitals reopen while pending payments, but facility owners used underhand tactics to fleece Kenyans. Beyond verifying current outstanding payments, we are embarking on a verification exercise of all payments to flag any inconsistencies," she added.

The hospitals flagged include Joykim medical centre in Meru Central, St Peters Orthopaedic and Surgical Hospital in Kiambu County, Afya Bora Hospital in Mwea, Kirinyaga, Joy Nursing and Maternity Hospital in Malewa Street, Kamukunji. 

Others include Afya Bora Hospital Annex in Wanguru, Mwea, Jkim Hospital in Nkupu Imenti South, Beirut Pharmacy and medical centre and Amal Hospital Limited. The facilities were directed to transfer their in-patients and evacuate within 24 hours. 

The Health CS ordered a lifestyle audit be carried out on all NHIF staff so that every member can explain their wealth in line with their earnings, warning that any and all inconsistencies will lead to legal action taken.

NTV on Sunday, June 18 exposed medical fraud in various hospitals in Nairobi and Meru counties, uncovering how men and women posing as healthcare provide hope to the villagers, promising to rescue them from arthritis complications, using NHIF to fool unsuspecting Kenyans.

“The rogue medics target elderly women and men with leg or knee problems. After this lady identifies them deep in the villages, she enquires if they are NHIF members and if their cards are up to date. If the patients meet these criteria, she convinces them that they need medical help.

"These people are called to a chief’s camp, so if you’re called to a chief’s camp for such a meeting, you know that the government knows about it, then they say the programme is being run by the president. So it is very easy to be taken in,” one of the whistleblowers Salesio Mutuma, stated during the expose.