Omtatah Demands SHA Shutdown Over Ksh104 Billion Corruption Scandal
Busia Senator and activist Okiya Omtatah has urged the Ministry of Health to immediately halt the operations of the Social Health Authority (SHA) following a damning audit report by Auditor General Nancy Gathungu.
The report exposed SHA as a Ksh104 billion corruption scheme that is neither owned nor controlled by the government, putting at risk the billions of shillings contributed by Kenyans towards healthcare.
In response to these revelations, Omtatah has made three key demands: the immediate suspension of SHA while a full investigation is conducted, a complete restructuring of its operational framework, and the prosecution of those responsible for the alleged large-scale theft.
Corruption Allegations and Public Outrage
According to Omtatah, the issues within SHA are not minor administrative challenges but deep-rooted failures that have eroded public trust and could derail Kenya’s Universal Health Coverage (UHC) plans.
“These are not mere teething problems; they are systemic failures that undermine public confidence and threaten the future of Universal Health Coverage in Kenya,” he emphasized.
The senator warned that if the scheme continues in its current state, it could cause irreversible damage.
“Continuing with this broken scheme will cause irreparable harm, betraying the trust of millions who deserve a transparent, accountable, and functional healthcare system, not a corruption cartel disguised as progress,” Omtatah stated.
His concerns align with the findings of the Auditor General, who highlighted major financial irregularities within SHA. One of the most alarming discoveries was that 2.5% of member contributions were being siphoned into an escrow account with no transparency or proper oversight.
Auditor General’s Findings and Calls for Investigation
Gathungu’s report detailed further issues within SHA, including uncompetitive procurement procedures, lack of clear payment agreements, and questionable contract terms that disadvantage the public.
These revelations have sparked nationwide concern, with leaders and citizens calling for the immediate cancellation of SHA and an in-depth investigation into its financial and operational management.
Among those criticizing the program is former Law Society of Kenya (LSK) President Nelson Havi, who has gone as far as labeling SHA a criminal enterprise. Havi accused President William Ruto of allegedly using the scheme to generate funds for bribing Members of Parliament.
Government’s Response to the Controversy
While the backlash grows, Cabinet Secretary for Public Service and Human Capital Development, Justin Muturi, revealed that he had previously cautioned the public about the controversial manner in which the Ksh104 billion SHA contract was executed.
However, President William Ruto has dismissed claims that the government spent Ksh104 billion on the SHA system.
“There is not a single cent from the government that will be used to pay for any system. Most of the money owned by the NHIF was being misappropriated by the brokers in the old NHIF system,” Ruto stated on Tuesday.
With mounting pressure from political leaders, legal experts, and the public, the fate of SHA now hangs in the balance as demands for accountability and reform intensify.
In Other News: ODPC to Audit SHA’s Digital Health System Amid Security Concerns
Omtatah Demands SHA Shutdown Over Ksh104 Billion Corruption Scandal
