The Lower Eastern Times Opening The Third Eye
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Nairobi Woman Representative Esther Passaris has called on the Ministry of Health to make public detailed payment records for the Social Health Assurance (SHA) scheme, raising alarm over possible mismanagement and structural loopholes.
Her call comes after Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale revealed that fraudulent claims worth about Sh11 billion had been flagged within the SHA system—an attempt he warned could have eroded public confidence and disrupted healthcare services.
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In a statement issued on Thursday, Passaris stressed that any mismanagement ultimately hurts ordinary Kenyans.
“Sh11 billion is a huge amount of money. It could be used to buy lifesaving medical equipment, ensure the availability of essential drugs, and sustain thousands of healthcare workers for years. I strongly support the Social Health Authority and the goal of Universal Healthcare, but it is worrying when citizens’ contributions fail to improve services because of weaknesses in the system,” she said.
She noted that whether or not the fraudulent claims were successfully processed, the incident exposed serious gaps in the SHA framework that need urgent fixing. According to Passaris, demanding accountability is an issue of leadership, not political opposition.
“From ghost patients to questionable claims, we must identify leakages, expose fraud, and safeguard public resources. Our healthcare system requires urgent corrective measures. Transparency and accountability are non-negotiable,” she added.
Passaris further emphasized that openness must be matched with firm action to rebuild public trust in SHA.
“SHA must work, and its success depends on trust, transparency, and accountability moving together,” she said.
In response, CS Duale said the government has strengthened oversight within the SHA system. He disclosed that fraudulent claims totaling Sh11.6 billion had been detected and rejected, demonstrating that tighter controls are working.
“Suspicious claims are being identified and stopped. Every shilling contributed by Kenyans is tracked, and any misuse will be thoroughly investigated and prosecuted under the law,” Duale said during an interview on Citizen TV.
He added that while public attention often highlights shortcomings, significant progress is being made to reinforce the national health insurance framework.
