On November 28, Chief Magistrate Francis Andayi of the Anti-Corruption Court granted NHIF CEO Geoffrey Gitau Mwangi and acting Finance Director Wilbert Kiplangat Kurgat release on a Sh1 million bond each, amid the ongoing multi-billion NHIF scandal.
Notably, the two were arrested and charged only with conspiracy to defeat justice and disobedience of a lawful order, raising questions about the identity of the individuals responsible for the alleged theft of nearly Sh2 billion from NHIF.
Among those implicated is Abdul Galgalo Munishram, the Director of Munshiram International Business System, a company engaged by NHIF to implement a comprehensive biometric system over three years.
Former CEO Mwangi, now facing corruption charges, had announced that NHIF had already enrolled all civil servants in a database linked to this biometric system, which included equipping 1,370 hospitals with necessary technology.
The plan promised a seamless healthcare experience for Kenyans, allowing them to access services without presenting their NHIF cards, merely by using biometric verification.
However, similar to previous scandals, it appears that cartels were already positioning themselves to exploit this lucrative contract, with Munishram, a billionaire and associate of politician Aden Duale, reportedly being introduced to influential figures in the Rift Valley region.
What began as a legitimate business transaction quickly spiraled into a multi-billion scandal when influential government figures demanded Sh400 million from Abdul Galgalo. The businessman consented to the payment, provided that the National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF) would make advance payments to support the importation of biometrics.
Alarmingly, despite NHIF fulfilling its financial obligations for the nationwide supply and installation of these systems, only four hospitals received the equipment. After three years of pressure from the CEO to fulfill the contract, Galgalo vanished without a trace. Meanwhile, former NHIF CEO Geoffrey Mwangi and acting Finance Director Wilbert Kiplangat Kurgat have been made scapegoats, facing absurd charges of obstructing justice, while the true orchestrators of the scheme remain protected in Karen.
