Misused public fundsHealth & social services

Auditor-General finds Sh49.3 billion in irregular, unsupported or fraudulent Social Health Authority transactions, including ghost surgeries and phantom births

Confidence: Corroborated · 3 sourcesKenya · Sep 22, 2026

Subject of this story

Social Health Authority (SHA)

Also named

Oversight

Office of the Auditor-General (Kenya)

What happened

Kenya's Auditor-General Nancy Gathungu's audit of the Social Health Authority (SHA), the Sh104.8 billion national health insurance system that replaced NHIF, found at least Sh49.3 billion in queried transactions, including a patient billed for open-heart surgery four times in one day and a woman billed for ten deliveries in one year, plus Sh26.8 billion paid without any supporting documentation. The audit also found the state neither owns nor controls the SHA IT system despite the public investment. The Health Cabinet Secretary characterized the anomalies as 'initial transition gaps' comparable to normal migration 'teething hitches.'

By the numbers (1)

● confirmed by a primary document · ○ reported

Figures

○

Reporting on the Auditor-General's report says the state put Ksh.104.8B into the SHA system.104.8B KES

Office of the Auditor-General (Kenya)

1 source

Citizen DigitalKsh.104.8B into SHA system it neither owns nor controls

Sources (3)

Daily NationAuditor-General exposes Sh50bn SHA rip-off, including ghost surgeries and phantom births.

Citizen DigitalState sinks Ksh.104.8B into SHA system it neither owns nor controls — Auditor General.

K24 DigitalAuditor-General exposes glaring breaches of law in Ksh104B SHA system.

Response

Social Health Authority (SHA)

Statement given

Contacted and responded — exact wording not on record.

What happened next (0)

No outcome recorded yet.

I saw an update

Take action →