NHIF probe targets top officials

A parliamentary committee is investigating the role of top ministry officials in the payment of Sh318 million to private health providers in the controversial civil servants medical scheme.

At the same time, the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission is finalising investigations into alleged irregularities in the National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF) scheme.

Members of the Parliamentary Committee on Health disclosed that they had established major irregularities in the manner in which the NHIF implemented the scheme.

The MPs who requested anonymity for fear of appearing to pre-empt the committee’s report, disclosed that they were investigating top officials at the Ministry of Medical Services and the NHIF who authorised the payment of the millions of shillings to private health providers before services were delivered.

“The committee feels that the manner in which NHIF went about implementing the health scheme is questionable. The committee’s opinion is that the sourcing of service providers was questionable right from the pilot project,” said one member of the committee.

“There were delays in delivering services yet money was paid upfront to service providers. The fact that this money was being used by private service providers to upgrade facilities means that it was basically enhancing private healthcare and not public healthcare,” he added.

“We want to establish who was authorising what and who paid money before services were offered,” he explained.

The MPs spoke as the head of communications at the Ethics and Anti-Commission, Mr Nicholas Simani, confirmed that its investigations into the alleged irregularities were at an advanced stage.

“We had initiated investigations into the NHIF matter some time back and we are progressing well. Investigations are at an advanced stage. We will make necessary information public once we complete our investigations,” Mr Simani told the Nation.

Criminal Investigations Department (CID) director Ndegwa Muhoro said he would await the report by the parliamentary team before deciding whether to open criminal investigations against anybody found culpable. “It is the outcome of the probe that will determine whether the matter is taken over by the EACC or the CID,” Mr Muhoro explained.

National importance

On Tuesday, deputy speaker Farah Maalim ordered the team chaired by Nyaribari Chache MP Robert Monda to table its report in Parliament next Thursday.

The committee had sought a two-week extension to enable it compile the report, but Mr Maalim declined, saying the matter was of national importance.

The MPs denied that divisions among the committee’s members were slowing down its work.

“There are no divisions in the committee,” said one MP, adding that the delay had been occasioned by the absence of some of the committee’s members, who are away on official business.