NAIROBI, Kenya — Nairobi Woman Representative Esther Muthoni Passaris has called on Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale to immediately release full payment data from the Social Health Authority (SHA), warning that alleged fraudulent claims running into billions of shillings expose serious weaknesses in Kenya’s healthcare financing system.
In a statement on Thursday, Passaris said reports of a suspected Sh11 billion fraudulent attempt—whether paid out or intercepted—point to dangerous loopholes that risk undermining Universal Health Coverage (UHC).
“Sh11 billion is no pocket change. That money could equip hospitals with lifesaving machines and medicine, and hire and pay thousands of healthcare workers for years,” she said.
Passaris said she supports the principle of UHC and believes in the objectives of the SHA, but argued that transparency is essential, especially as salaried Kenyans continue to make mandatory deductions to fund the scheme.
“It is painful when citizens’ salaries are deducted to support social health programmes, yet Kenyans still suffer due to mismanagement, system weaknesses, and corruption risks,” she said.
The legislator urged the Ministry of Health to make public all SHA payment data to expose what she described as potential ghost patients, fake hospitals and other fraudulent claims draining public resources.
“Whether paid out or intercepted, the fraudulent attempt itself exposes serious loopholes that must be urgently sealed,” Passaris said, adding that transparency would allow authorities and the public to flag fraud and protect public funds.
She framed her remarks as a call for accountability rather than political opposition, insisting that oversight strengthens, rather than weakens, government programmes.
“Accountability is not opposition, it is leadership. As leaders, we must work for Kenyans and protect the trust they have placed in us above all else,” she said.
Passaris warned that continued opacity could erode public confidence in the SHA at a time when the government is pushing for nationwide enrolment under the reformed health financing model.
“Our healthcare system is in critical condition. It needs urgent CPR. That CPR is transparency and accountability,” she said.
The Social Health Authority is central to the government’s UHC reforms, replacing the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) with a new structure intended to expand coverage, improve efficiency, and reduce fraud. However, concerns over system readiness, data integrity, and provider payments have persisted since its rollout.
Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale has previously said the ministry is strengthening digital systems and oversight mechanisms to curb fraud and ensure value for money, but had not publicly responded to Passaris’ latest call by the time of publication.
