Twenty hospital owners and officials are now wanted by the state over an alleged Ksh28 million fraud involving the Social Health Authority (SHA).
The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) got arrest warrants from the court on Tuesday after the suspects failed to show up to face charges that had already been approved by Director of Public Prosecutions Renson Ingonga.
The prosecutors appearing before the Milimani Law Courts said that the suspects were accused of working together to defraud the government. They allegedly registered health facilities irregularly and submitted claims for medical procedures that were never done.
The charges they are expected to face include conspiracy to defraud, operating unlicensed medical facilities, computer fraud, unauthorised access to computer systems, obtaining money by false pretences and abuse of office. Prosecutors say the scheme led to the loss of about Ksh28 million in public funds through claims made to the Social Health Authority.
The DPP has also approved charges against eight facilities said to have been used in the scheme. They are Kaafi Nursing Home, Dimtu Nursing Limited, Mama Nerbeel Nursing Home, Kamsihawa Medical Centre, Adfeel Kids Care Medical Centre Limited, Julun Nursing Home, Danaba Care Hospital Limited and Alati Nursing Home.
In a related development, one suspect has already been arraigned before Senior Principal Magistrate Teresia Nyangena. He denied the charges and was released on a bond of Ksh1 million with two sureties or an alternative cash bail of Ksh500,000. He was also ordered to provide two contact persons.
The alleged offences were committed between January 30 and August 25 last year. The case will be mentioned again on March 12 as authorities step up efforts to bring the remaining suspects to court.
The matter first came to light in August last year after complaints from health practitioners and remarks by Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale over suspected misuse of public health funds.
