Nyong’o erred on NHIF

A High Court ruling that disbanded a caretaker committee set up two months ago to run the National Health Insurance Fund has added to the muddle at the parastatal.

In its ruling, the High Court averred that President Kibaki erred in appointing the committee as he disregarded provisions of the NHIF Act, specifically, locking out representatives of the medical practitioners association.

Only a few days earlier, Medical Services minister Anyang’ Nyong’o had reinstated the suspended chief executive, Mr Richard Kerich, on the strength of the fact that Parliament had rejected findings of a House committee that was investigating allegations of impropriety at the parastatal.

And following the court’s ruling, Prof Nyong’o now insists that the previous board should be reinstated.

Yet, as we report elsewhere today, there are serious financial malpractices and administrative weaknesses at NHIF that must be dealt with.

This is why a team of investigators, including the anti-corruption unit, are currently auditing the organisation.

Thus, it is ridiculous to contemplate bringing back the previous board and its chief executive.

The court verdict is due for appeal, but the substantive point is that an independent team is required to run NHIF.

Any attempt to bring back the suspended board and chief executive is misguided and must be rejected.