NHIF scandal whistleblower now says his life is in danger

A human rights activist who blew the whistle on the scandal involving an alleged embezzlement of the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) now says his life is in danger.

Salesio Thuranira, a resident of Meru county, recently exposed how several vulnerable patients, who are subscribed to NHIF, lost hundreds of thousands of shillings siphoned by cartels who work in cahoots with private hospitals through unscrupulous deals which include inflation of medical bills.

Thuranira claims that days after the scandal went public through media reports, he received threats from unknown people and has been forced to live in hiding.

He has reported the matter to the police and wants security for himself and his family even as he calls for investigations to be expedited.

“Kuna mtu alipigia bibi yangu simu akamwambia afikishe ujumbe kwangu eti anaenda corridors za court kutafuta justice akiwa widow na mimi nikiwa maiti,” he said.

“Nilireport kwa police station na nikapewa OB number, but the following day kuna mwingine alinipigia akaniambia wanaenda kuhire hitmen kwa hivo nisidhani ntajificha sana.”

He has now called on Interior Cabinet Secretary Prof. Kithure Kindiki to intervene and assure him of his security and that of his family.

He has called on the Health CS to expedite investigations to ensure his work of exposing the scandal was not in vain.

Thuranira said he has not thought of seeking asylum outside the country since that would be an act of cowardice.