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Ruto dismisses SHA fraud claims by ghost hospital
27th August, 2025 04:14 PM
President William Ruto has flatly rejected claims that the Social Health Authority (SHA) paid ghost hospitals in its latest disbursements.
Speaking at State House on Wednesday, August 27, 2025, where he met with a section of Kiambu grassroots leaders, Ruto insisted that the ongoing digitisation of the health fund is specifically designed to unmask and stop fraud in the sector.
Digital system to fight fraud
The Head of State defended the SHA platform, noting that it is already detecting irregularities that plagued the defunct National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF).
“The digitisation process of SHA is what is enabling us to detect all the fraudulent claims, all ghost hospitals.
“Ile wizi iliangusha NHIF mpaka kukakua na madeni ya mabilioni therathini, haiwezi ikafanyika kwa SHA.
“We will make sure the digital system will detect all fraudulent claims, ghost hospitals, and ghost patients that are attempting to engage in fraud,” Ruto said.
According to him, the digital safeguards being put in place mark a radical departure from NHIF’s poor record, which saw ballooning debts and widespread public mistrust.
Warning to fraudsters
Ruto further revealed that his administration had already shut down a significant number of questionable facilities and would not hesitate to prosecute those found culpable.
“We are promising the people of Kenya that we have already closed close to 1,000 health facilities.
“We will make sure they refund the money if at all they got paid, then make sure we prosecute them. It is criminal to steal public resources using any means. SHA will work,” he added.
His remarks come in the wake of growing criticism after reports surfaced that Nyandiwa Dispensary, an abandoned health facility in Homa Bay, had been allocated Ksh20 million by SHA.
Health officials later attributed the payment to a clerical error, but the revelation sparked public outrage and demands for accountability.
Ruto’s strong defence of the system underscores his administration’s determination to assure Kenyans that the new health scheme will not repeat the failures of the past.
Observers say the President’s remarks are aimed at restoring public confidence in SHA, even as investigations into suspicious disbursements continue.
