Health CS Aden Duale speaking in Kisumu on June 29, 2025. /FAITH MATETE
Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale has launched a crackdown on fraudulent activities targeting the newly launched Social Health Authority (SHA) Fund, warning of dire consequences for healthcare facilities, workers, and patients engaged in abuse of the system.
Speaking in Kisumu on Sunday, Duale confirmed that 31 private hospitals across the country have been shut down for a range of illegal practices aimed at siphoning money from the public health fund.
“We have closed seven hospitals in Kisumu and others in Bungoma, Busia, Nairobi, Mandera, Wajir, Kajiado, and Kilifi,” he said.
“These facilities think they can continue stealing public money the way they did under NHIF. We will not allow that.”
Among the malpractices identified are falsifying patient data, double-claiming payments, and manipulating bed capacity—where small clinics with as few as 14 beds falsely claimed to operate 100-bed hospitals.
A statement released by the Health CS further detailed the scope of the fraud, citing incidents of ghost patient admissions, forced or unnecessary inpatient admissions, and the misuse of pre-authorisation and patient access codes to claim payments for services not rendered.
“Some healthcare workers are giving out pre-authorisation codes to enable hospitals to submit false claims,” Duale warned.
“If you’re doing this, we’re coming for you.”
The Ministry also noted that some facilities are charging both the SHA Fund and patients for the same services—an illegal practice that violates the core principles of universal healthcare.
Patients who experience such double-billing are urged to report to the SHA Call Centre via toll-free number 147.
Duale condemned attempts by some of the affected hospitals to reach out to his office in a bid to block impending investigations.
“Let me be clear. On Monday morning, we are forwarding several files to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI). We will not entertain lobbying,” he asserted.
The SHA Fund, which replaced the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF), is designed to offer more accountable, transparent, and equitable health coverage to Kenyans.
Duale reaffirmed the government's commitment to cleaning up the sector.
“This is a new era,” he said. “We will not allow the old culture of looting health funds to thrive under SHA. We are protecting Kenyans and their right to affordable and quality healthcare.”
Both the Ministry and the Health CS have warned that individuals—be they doctors, patients, or facility owners—found culpable will face prosecution.
“Fraud against the SHA Fund is not just unethical—it’s a crime. And we will act decisively,” Duale said.
