Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale has rejected claims that KSh 11 billion under the Social Health Authority (SHA) was stolen, clarifying that the funds were part of fraudulent claims detected and blocked by the government’s digital health system.
Duale made the remarks during an interview on Jeff Koinange Live (JKL) on Wednesday night, responding to widespread reports suggesting significant financial losses under the SHA.
“Newspaper headlines are often crafted to provoke attention and stir conversation. The KSh 11 billion in question has not been lost under the Social Health Authority. On the contrary, it represents fraudulent claims that were detected and rejected by our robust, foolproof system, funds that would otherwise have been lost,” Duale said.
He explained that the SHA’s digital platform is equipped with a state-of-the-art AI fraud detection engine, supported by forensic and risk auditors as well as clinical review doctors.
This system has enabled the ministry to flag and reject suspicious claims before any disbursement could occur.
“Our digital health system has identified and rejected KSh 11 billion in fraudulent claims. Without these safeguards, public funds would have been at significant risk of loss,” Duale added, emphasizing the ministry’s commitment to protecting taxpayer money.
The Health CS also noted that such systems are part of broader reforms aimed at enhancing transparency and accountability within public health programs, particularly those involving digital payments for health services.
Duale’s clarification comes amid heightened scrutiny of public spending in the health sector, with the government under pressure to demonstrate effective checks against misuse of public funds.