NAIROBI, Kenya — Detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations have arrested an interdicted staff member of the Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Council (KMPDC) over alleged fraudulent activities linked to the Social Health Authority (SHA).
The suspect, Harun Liluma, was arrested on Thursday as part of what the DCI described as an ongoing crackdown on individuals and organisations involved in illegal schemes affecting the national health insurance system.
According to the agency, Liluma will be arraigned at the Milimani Law Courts to face three charges: conspiracy to defraud, abuse of office, and computer fraud. The charges were approved by the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions following what investigators termed extensive and painstaking inquiries.
“Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) detectives have arrested Harun Liluma, an interdicted staff member of the Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Council (KMPDC), as part of the ongoing crackdown on individuals and organisations involved in various illegalities affecting the Social Health Authority (SHA),” the agency said in a statement.
The DCI added that the arrest signals heightened enforcement within public health institutions amid mounting scrutiny over integrity in the management of health funds.
“His arrest and subsequent arraignment are a clear indication of the DCI’s commitment to unearthing all illegalities within the Social Health Authority and safeguarding members of the public from losing their hard-earned money through fraudulent schemes,” the statement read.
The Social Health Authority was established to replace the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) under reforms aimed at expanding universal health coverage and strengthening financial accountability within Kenya’s healthcare system. The transition has drawn public attention and parliamentary oversight, particularly over governance safeguards and the protection of contributors’ funds.
Legal experts note that offences such as abuse of office and computer fraud fall under the Penal Code and the Computer Misuse and Cybercrimes Act, carrying potential custodial sentences if proven. Conspiracy to defraud also attracts significant penalties under Kenya’s criminal law framework.
Liluma is expected to take a plea once formally charged.
The case now shifts to the Judiciary, where prosecutors must prove the elements of the alleged offences beyond a reasonable doubt. It also places renewed focus on internal controls within health regulatory bodies and the robustness of oversight mechanisms designed to prevent financial leakages in public institutions.
