The Ministry of Health is facing renewed scrutiny following reports that KSh 11 billion was lost from the Social Health Authority (SHA) in just six months. This occurred despite earlier assurances of strict safeguards and a secure IT system. Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale disclosed at a National Assembly retreat in Naivasha that fraudulent claims and fictitious procedures, often involving collusion between some SHA staff and private facilities, contributed to the losses between October 2024 and April 2025. 

 

A major concern has been the reported rise in unnecessary Caesarean sections, with some expectant mothers allegedly pressured into surgery to inflate reimbursement claims. Duale pointed out that certain facilities submitted claims for procedures they were not equipped to perform, citing one facility that filed 35 claims for C-sections despite lacking an operating theatre. Lawmakers also heard about falsified records, including one case in Kwale where a single patient was recorded as having 381 dependent children. 

 

In response to these issues, authorities have deregistered dozens of doctors and clinical officers from the SHA system and closed more than 1,000 facilities. Over 1,000 investigation files have been forwarded to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations, although progress in resolving these cases remains slow. Nevertheless, the ministry asserts that the rollout of the SHA has made significant strides, with more than 29 million Kenyans now registered.