MPs call for Duale’s resignation, term theft of Sh10.6 billion at SHA a grand scam
According to the MPs, SHA chairperson Mohamed Abdi and Chief Executive Officer (CEO)Mercy Mwangangi also need to resign for overseeing the alleged fraudulent payments
Members of Parliament allied to the Kenya Moja faction have called for the resignation of Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale over alleged conflict of interest, complacency, and hoodwinking Kenyans through the Social Health Authority.
In a statement read on their behalf by Kitutu Chache Member of Parliament Anthony Kibagendi, they alleged that CS Duale is associated with the company that developed the Social Health Authority (SHA) system
“We demand the immediate resignation of CS Duale for conflict of interest, complacency, trying to hoodwink Kenyans with theatrics of summoning the media to harass facilities, and suspending some facilities. He has been talking tough out here, putting on a face just to hoodwink Kenyans,” the MPs demanded.
The legislators termed SHA as a calculated scam whose implementation was rushed without transparency.
“SHA is not a reform; it is a grand, calculated scam. We have uncovered evidence of deep-rooted conflict of interest. The CS for Health is reportedly associated with the same company that developed the SHA system,” they further alleged.
According to the MPs, SHA chairperson Mohamed Abdi and Chief Executive Officer (CEO)Mercy Mwangangi also need to resign for overseeing the alleged fraudulent payments amounting to Sh10.6 billion.
“We demand the immediate resignation of the SHA chairperson who is associated with the Ladnan health facility. We also demand the resignation of the SHA CEO, who is facilitating this theft,” they stated.
On Tuesday, Mwangangi suspended 45 facilities, saying they shall not be entitled to any benefit from SHA during the period of their suspension.
“In accordance with the provisions of the Social Health Insurance Act, the facilities listed in the Schedule shall not be entitled to any benefit from the Social Health Authority during their suspension,” SHA announced through a special gazette notice.
SHA has also blacklisted 12 doctors implicated in the suspicious claims.
The money was lost through fraudulent practices such as upcoding, falsification of medical records, conversion of outpatient cases into inpatient admissions, and phantom billing for non-existent patients.
Addressing the press on Tuesday, Duale, however, dismissed social media allegations that SHA has been making payments to non-existent or non-operational healthcare facilities.
The CS termed the claims as information his ministry already possesses through legitimate channels.
However, as public outrage raged SHA curiously pulled down its online payment list and health facility registry, making it impossible for the public to follow the money trail.
