SHA Appoints 82 Officers to Manage State's Health Insurance Scheme

The Social Health Authority (SHA) has unveiled a team of principal officers expected to optimise the agency's services to the public.

The authority announced the appointment of 82 principal officers charged with learning various departments of the state-owned health insurance scheme.

The officers have been distributed across 18 designations.

According to SHA, the appointments will reinforce the existing team.

The agency appointed three principal officers for the legal services designation, namely; Millicent Lukasile, David Njue Fasiriano and Archibold Nyarango.

David Dawe Gambo and Joseph Owuor Otieno were appointed in the Benefits Management department, with Budha Peter Oko and Sosten Kibet Lelan taking over the Supply Chain Management designation.

Geoffrey Okora and Boniface Kitonyo Kamuti were entrusted with Planning and Linkages, while Geoffrey Mwangi Thiaka and Anab Sharrif Mohamed took over the Registration and Compliance (County Coordination) designation.

Minnie Wanja Gitau and Faith Sitoi Tonkei were entrusted with the Registration and Compliance designation, with Boniface Kitheka, Eustace Mweri Mwangi, Sheila Jelagat Kipkulei, Benedict Mutua, Simon Njachi Kariuki and Ann Daki Shokono being entrusted with Fund Management

Rahab Waruguru Mumbi and Amos Manani were appointed to the Finance and Accounts designation, with Gloria Chebet Rotich and Jaldesa Amina being appointed to the Administration designation.

Below are other designations with their respective appointments:

SHA was launched in October 2024, taking over from the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF), which had served Kenyans for more than 50 years.

The new scheme integrates three key funds; the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF), the Primary Healthcare Fund, and the Emergency, Chronic and Critical Illnesses Fund.

Ruto, in endorsing SHA, said the scheme was designed to close loopholes exploited by cartels in the health sector to siphon public money through fraudulent claims.

Since its inception, SHA has registered more than 20 million beneficiaries.

Earlier this year, the president announced tough measures against hospitals and service providers found defrauding the state-backed programme.

While acknowledging that SHA is meeting the expectations of many Kenyans, he cautioned that dishonest practitioners and facilities continue to pose challenges by attempting to manipulate the system for personal gain.

Ruto expressed concern that despite efforts to make the scheme fraud-resistant, it remains vulnerable to malpractice.

He warned that offenders would face prosecution and be forced to refund any money illegally obtained.

According to him, over 1,000 health facilities have already been shut down, with some losing their operating licences due to alleged fraud.

His remarks came amid growing unease over SHA’s operations, with reports, though unverified, suggesting a multi-million shilling scandal involving misappropriation of funds within the scheme.