The National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) board and its Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Elijah Wachira have, for the second time, failed to comply with a High Court order to renew a medical insurance contract with a firm belonging to former Naivasha Member of Parliament (MP) chairman John Mututho or face contempt of court charges and possible jail term.
NHIF has been given seven more days to amicably settle a multi-million dispute with a firm owned by former Mututho touching on the renewal of a medical insurance contract.
If the parties fail to reach an agreement, Jomec Limited owned by Mututho will proceed with their contempt application that could see the NHIF boss Elijah Wachira jailed for disobeying court orders.
The last time the matter was in court, Justice Josephine Mong’are directed NHIF and its CEO to honor their end of the bargain and sign the contract issued to Jomec.
Appearing before Justice Josephine Mong’are of Milimani High Court, Commercial and Tax Division on Monday, April 29, 2024, NHIF board and CEO Elijah Wachira confirmed that they are yet to honour the court directive to award Mututho’s firm JOMEC Limited the contract.
“Your honour, I confirm we (NHIF and its CEO) have not settled the matter. I confirm that deliberations are ongoing between ourselves (NHIF and JOMEC Limited). We had undertaken to finalise the settlement by one week but we have not. We seek another seven days to do so.” NHIF lawyer Brian Odongo told the judge.
On his side, Mututho’s lawyer Kimani Wachira confirmed that the board and its CEO are yet to purge contempt as ordered last week and instead filed a replying affidavit to the contempt of court application against them. As a consequence, Justice Mong’are fixed the court of application for hearing on July 29, 2024.
“I advise the parties herein to continue with the negotiations and if you agree before the hearing date you can do another consent,” the judge stated.
Last week, on Monday, the judge granted the NHIF board and its CEO seven days to comply with a High Court order issued on February 6, 2024, in favour of Mututho’s firm JOMEC Limited. SUGGESTED NEWS
