The Social Health Authority (SHA) has dismissed media reports alleging that it disbursed KSh20 million to a non-existent hospital in Homa Bay, terming the claims false and misleading.
In a statement issued on Friday, SHA clarified that Nyandiwa Level 4 Hospital in Gwassi, Suba South, has been fully operational since the 1970s. Initially established as Nyandiwa Dispensary, the facility was later upgraded to a Level 4 hospital but retained its original bank account name, a practice common among health facilities across the country.
“The disbursement of KSh19,998,720 represents legitimate and accumulated claims duly processed in line with SHA’s strict verification and payment protocols,” said SHA Chief Executive Officer Dr. Mercy Mwangangi.
According to the authority, the hospital has so far received KSh751,504 under the Primary Health Care (PHC) programme and KSh82,080,706 through the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF) since October 2024. These payments cover a wide range of services, including inpatient, outpatient, maternity, dialysis, surgical, oncology, and mental health care.
SHA further explained that an abandoned building shown in recent media coverage is an incomplete structure put up by a previous county administration. The facility has never been contracted by SHA and does not have transacting rights.
“All SHA payments are subjected to rigorous verification to safeguard public funds and strengthen health service delivery. We do not, and will never, disburse funds to ghost facilities,” the authority stressed.
Homa Bay Governor Gladys Wanga also urged media houses to exercise due diligence and fact-checking before publishing reports that may mislead the public.
SHA has encouraged members of the public and journalists to verify information through its official website or the Homa Bay County Department of Health, noting that all payments are published after every disbursement.
Written By Rodney Mbua
