MARIMANTI, Kenya — Four suspects posing as officials from the Social Health Authority (SHA) have been arrested in Tharaka Nithi County after defrauding a man of Sh251,000 in a scheme disguised as a membership registration exercise.
According to police reports, the suspects — Peter Muriithi, Catherine Kinyua, Lilian Njeri, and Samuel Mbuthia — approached the victim claiming to be conducting SHA enrolments. They reportedly convinced him to hand over his mobile phone to “finalise the registration process,” only for the device to switch off moments later.
The victim later discovered that his Sacco account had been emptied, with Sh251,000 transferred to mobile numbers linked to the impostors.
Law enforcement officers in Marimanti launched a swift operation that led to the arrest of the four. During the raid, police recovered several SHA-branded materials, including T-shirts, name tags, membership cards, information leaflets, and multiple SIM cards.
Investigators also impounded a Toyota Prado (registration number KDP 267C) believed to have been used in the fraud. Another number plate, KDS 399C, was recovered from the vehicle, raising questions about the suspects’ wider operations.
The quartet is currently being held at Marimanti Police Station pending arraignment. Authorities said the suspects are likely to face charges related to obtaining money by false pretences, impersonation, and possession of forged identification documents.
Police have urged members of the public to be vigilant and verify the identity of SHA field agents before engaging in any transactions.
“We caution citizens to confirm all SHA-related activities through official government communication channels and report any suspicious individuals to the nearest police station,” a senior officer involved in the case said.
Investigations are ongoing to trace possible accomplices and identify other victims who may have been duped by the group.
The Social Health Authority, which replaced the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) under the Social Health Insurance Act, 2023, has recently rolled out registration across the country — a move that authorities warn has been exploited by fraudsters targeting unsuspecting citizens.
