Aasai

Retired Chief Justice David Maraga has called on the government to conduct a thorough investigation into allegations of an attempt to defraud the Public Health Authority (SHA) through illegal payments.

Maraga said the revelation by the Ministry of Health that it had stopped payments of about Sh10 billion to fake health facilities is a matter of concern for the security of the country’s health system. “There is something serious and alarming going on in our health sector. 

The Kenya Public Health Authority website was shut down. Also, the Kenya Hospital Registry (KMFR) website disappeared. This is not only an attempt to cover up a serious crime against Kenyans but also a violation of constitutional rights because these websites are the ones that store and verify government records on hospitals and health facilities,” said Mr Maraga. 

Addressing journalists yesterday, Mr Maraga said the reported problems in the health system are occurring while millions of shillings are being paid to non-functional facilities. On that basis, the retired judge has called on the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) to investigate not only the paid centres, but also the people who manage the system.

 “We want EACC to investigate and bring all those involved to justice, action must be taken, and that is what Kenyans want,” Mr Maraga insisted. According to him, the frequent irregularities in SHA have been affecting millions of citizens and causing major disruptions in health facilities. “Kenyans’ hearts are filled with pain and despair even before this website was taken down. These are our mothers, fathers, children and relatives who are suffering,” he explained.

 He said it was sad that the health system, which should be the backbone of the nation’s welfare, is suffering due to corruption and lack of accountability. “We cannot continue to tolerate a system where taxpayers’ money is being wasted in the dark without anyone being held accountable. 

The Ministry of Health and the professional health management bodies must be held accountable.” The government has also been asked to provide a full statement of payments made by SHA, including a list of health facilities that received the funds. On the other hand, COTU Secretary General, Francis Atwoli, has called for SHA to be given full autonomy to address the challenges currently facing it. 

Atwoli said COTU has been seeking an emergency meeting with Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale to discuss SHA’s challenges, but their efforts have been fruitless. “The main challenge facing SHA is that all its activities are dependent on the ICT system which is under the management of the Digital Health Authority (DHA) and the Ministry of Health, instead of being directly managed by SHA,” said Mr. Atwoli.