Public concern over the management of health funds has grown after a senior lawyer openly questioned how billions of shillings could disappear from a key national health body in such a short time. The issue has drawn sharp attention to the Social Health Authority, a program that was meant to support access to healthcare but is now at the center of a major fraud debate.
The discussion intensified after Nairobi lawyer Ahmednasir Abdullahi SC made a public statement that quickly spread online. Writing on X on January 28, 2026, he challenged Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale to explain how Sh11 billion could be lost within six months without clear consequences. His message struck a nerve with many Kenyans who feel that large thefts of public money no longer shock those in power.
Ahmednasir argued that corruption in Kenya has become so common that even massive losses are treated lightly. He compared the missing Sh11 billion to loose change and questioned why such a serious matter had not led to visible arrests or prosecutions.
To make his point clearer, he contrasted the situation with how a poor person stealing a chicken in Bulla Iftin in Garissa would likely face swift punishment. His message asked where the public anger and justice were when powerful people or institutions are involved.
These comments came shortly after an audit revealed widespread abuse of the Social Health Authority system. According to the findings, many private hospitals submitted fake or exaggerated claims between October 2024 and April 2025.
The methods used included reporting patients who were never admitted, inflating medical bills, changing treatment codes to claim more money, and listing medical procedures that never happened.
In many cases, important documents such as theatre notes were missing, making verification difficult.
Aden Duale later explained in an interview that checking some of these claims was nearly impossible due to poor or false records.
He said that investigations had identified 24 health facilities where fraud was confirmed, 61 that were still under investigation, and 105 others that had been flagged for further review.
Measures announced included suspending facilities, referring cases to the Director of Public Prosecutions and the Directorate of Criminal Investigations, and starting processes to recover stolen funds using anti-corruption and proceeds of crime laws.
Despite these statements, many Kenyans remain unconvinced. Critics say the government failed to put strong systems in place during the move from NHIF to SHA, allowing well-organized groups to take advantage of weaknesses.
The promised digital safeguards, they argue, did not work as expected and instead created new gaps that cartels exploited.
Duale has defended the reforms in the past, saying that the problems are caused by long-standing corruption networks rather than the new system itself. He has also dismissed claims that calls for resignations are driven by ethnic bias.
Still, the lack of announced high-level arrests has kept public pressure high, with citizens demanding clear action rather than explanations.
