Take responsibility over NHIF saga, Nyong'o told

Medical Services assistant minister Kambi Kazungu has collided with his boss Anyang Nyong’o on the controversial National Hospital Insurance Fund civil servants' scheme and demanded the latter takes political responsibility for the saga.

Mr Kazungu said Friday he was ready to help a parliamentary committee unravel the mystery surrounding the ownership of Clinix Healthcare Ltd, one of the health providers at the centre of the controversy.

He criticised Prof Nyong’o for suspending NHIF Board chairman Richard Muga saying he should instead have addressed himself to the issues of concern and put the CEO to task over the same.

“I have talked to the minister who is my boss and I have told him when it comes to corruption, I am not with him. We cannot steal from the poor and I am prepared to be sacked if that is what it takes to stand with the people,” he stated.

The Kaloleni MP said he was ready to quit as Prof Nyongo’s assistant, demanding that the minister and all who were involved in rolling out the contentious programme must step aside to pave way for investigations.

“Let them all go home if possible, including the minister. They should step aside to give way for a probe,” he stated, adding that he would rather leave the Ministry "than be part of a corrupt team".

Mr Kazungu, who is backing the suspended chairman, has demanded that the Chief Executive Officer Richard Kerich must explain how contracted health providers were picked and how funds were authorised and released.

The clash between the assistant minister and Prof Nyong’o came a day after the country was treated to drama after the NHIF Board sacked the CEO who was immediately reinstated by the minister. Prof Nyong’o instead suspended the Board chairman.

On Friday, Mr Kazungu claimed he had been sidelined in discussions on the implementation of the scheme now in the spotlight over alleged irregularities in its roll-out.

“I have never been briefed on the NHIF issue, yet in the principle of collective responsibility, I am there as an assistant minister and not as a messenger,” he stated.

"I have been asking the Chief Executive Officer this question, I have asked him to show how he has been spending the money and whether he has the capacity to handle it but I have never been given answers,” he claimed.

"The intention was wrong from the start, how can you sign agreements with non-existence facilities? The CEO must explain who authorised the monies,” he stated.

The assistant minister said he has already raised his grievances with Prime Minister Raila Odinga whom he said, is in agreement that investigations must be conducted on the issue.