Five arrested as DPP approves charges against two health facilities over SHA fraud

Efforts are underway to track down more suspects, believed to be linked to the scheme.

The arrests come after the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions(ODPP), approved charges against 9 suspects and two medical facilities, over allegations of fraud within the healthcare sector. 

A month after the Ministry of Health submitted 1,188 suspected fraud files to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations( DCI), detectives have made a breakthrough, arresting five individuals in connection with a multimillion-shilling healthcare fraud linked to ghost facilities. More suspects are being pursued. 

The arrests followed the approval by the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP), which gave investigators the green light to charge several individuals and institutions implicated in the scandal. 

Among those set to face charges is Sammy Otieno, who has been linked to conspiracy to defraud and to commit a felony. Patrick Kimuyu Kanya and Faith Chepkururi Bii will each be charged with conspiracy to commit a felony, fraudulent alteration of information, acquisition and use of proceeds of crime, and cheating. 

Others include Steven Okinyi Ojwang, Justine Baraka Glen, Maina Macharia, and Pauline Wanjiru, who face charges ranging from conspiracy to commit a felony and fraudulent alteration of information to knowingly making false statements, forgery, and uttering false documents. Nadia Mbeyu will be charged with uttering false documents. 

The fraud probe has also trapped two health facilities, St. Marks Orthodox Healthcare Limited, and Jambo Jipya Medical Clinic which have been recommended for prosecution over cheating, conspiracy to defraud, acquisition of proceeds of crime, falsification of health records, and use of proceeds of crime. 

The five suspects already in custody are expected to be arraigned on Monday next week.