The arrest of nine suspects linked to a fraudulent scheme within the Social Health Authority has reignited public concern about corruption in Kenya’s healthcare sector.
Among those arrested is former acting SHA Chief Executive Officer Robert Ingasira, who was picked up in Naivasha over his alleged role in a questionable transaction amounting to Ksh.17,591,473.
The payment is said to have been made to Archprime Medical Clinic in Homa Bay County for services that investigators believe were either exaggerated or never offered at all.
The operation, carried out by detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations, followed months of inquiries into how public money meant for health programs ended up in private pockets.
Ingasira’s arrest marked a major breakthrough in the case, as investigators try to unravel what appears to be a coordinated network of individuals and health facilities exploiting gaps in the SHA system.
Also being sought is former SHA boss Elijah Wachira, who once held the same position and is suspected of having played a role in similar questionable dealings.
According to investigators, the suspects face multiple charges, including conspiracy to defraud, misappropriation of funds, and abuse of office.
These offences fall under sections 317 and 101 of the Penal Code, as well as section 48(2) of the Social Health Insurance Act.
The charges suggest a deliberate effort to manipulate systems for personal gain at the expense of public resources. Alongside Ingasira, other suspects named include Rosemary Daraja and Peter Abuna, both of whom are alleged to have participated in the fraudulent claim filed by Archprime Medical Clinic.
The investigations also spread beyond Homa Bay, uncovering similar cases in other counties. Two suspects, Justus Odhiambo Ouma and Vera Atieno Otieno, were arrested for their alleged involvement in a Ksh.1,101,760 fraudulent claim submitted by Vebeneza Enterprise Medical Clinic in Nairobi County.
In another incident, three individuals Bill Clinton Ochieng, Cynthia Odhiambo, and Phelix Otieno were arrested in connection with a false claim worth Ksh.535,840 made by Rachuonyo East Sub-County Hospital.
Authorities also detained Noah Odhiambo Were over a separate claim of Ksh.315,840 from Nyatoto Health Centre.
The arrests followed an extensive probe by the DCI, which later forwarded the case files to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions.
The ODPP approved charges after reviewing the evidence, paving the way for formal prosecution. This latest crackdown is part of the efforts to tighten oversight in Kenya’s public health financing system and restore public trust in the Social Health Authority, which has faced repeated accusations of mismanagement and poor accountability.
