NAIROBI, Kenya – Renowned economist and presidential advisor Dr. David Ndii has come to the defense of his wife, Judy Mwende Gatabaki, amid rising public scrutiny over her role in a company awarded a multibillion-shilling contract under Kenya’s Universal Health Coverage (UHC) programme.
Gatabaki is employed by Apeiro Kenya Technologies, a firm that is part of a consortium contracted by the Ministry of Health to implement a digital healthcare system under the Sh104 billion Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF) rollout.
However, concerns emerged on social media and political circles over potential conflict of interest, given Dr. Ndii’s senior role in President William Ruto’s administration as Chair of the Council of Economic Advisors.
In a post on X, Ndii dismissed the claims, stating that his wife holds no ownership in Apeiro.
“My wife has no beneficial interest in Apeiro. She is an employee. The vendor is 100% owned by Emiratis,” Ndii wrote.
My wife has no beneficial interest in Apeiro. She is an employee. The vendor is 100% owned by Emiratis.
Apeiro’s Role in Kenya’s Digital Health Overhaul
Apeiro is working alongside Safaricom PLC, the lead contractor, and Konvergenz Network Solutions (KNS) in delivering an Integrated Healthcare Information Technology System (IHTS) aimed at digitizing patient records, streamlining hospital operations, and improving service delivery under UHC.
According to the Ministry of Health, the digital health system will ensure healthcare workers across the country have access to real-time patient data, enabling more efficient care and tracking under the newly launched SHIF scheme.
“To support the implementation of the UHC blueprint, the Ministry of Health has awarded a contract… to a consortium led by Safaricom PLC. The consortium includes global patient care digitization firm Apeiro and enterprise technology firm KNS,” the Ministry said in a September 2024 statement.
Transparency Questions Surface
While the Ministry has publicly defended the consortium’s qualifications, the emergence of Gatabaki’s name in connection with Apeiro triggered a wave of criticism and questions about transparency in public procurement—particularly for such a high-value and high-impact national project.
Dr. Ndii’s clarification appears aimed at tamping down speculation that his family may have unduly benefited from insider influence in the procurement process.
This is not the first time a high-ranking government official or advisor has had to distance themselves from procurement controversies involving family members or associates.
The sensitivity around the SHIF rollout—which replaces the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) and aims to guarantee access to affordable healthcare—has heightened public interest in how contracts tied to the programme are awarded and executed.
Though no wrongdoing has been alleged by authorities, Ndii’s public statement signals the Ruto administration’s awareness of the political and ethical optics surrounding major government tenders.
