Former Social Health Authority (SHA) Acting Chief Executive Officer Robert Ingasira and his four co-accused have been released on Ksh 500,000 bail each in a Ksh17.5 million fraud case.
They were arraigned on Thursday, October 30, on allegations of conspiring to defraud the Authority of more than Ksh17.5 million through falsified medical claims.
All five, who include include senior officials of a private clinic, denied the accusations, pleading not guilty. They were charged with abuse of office and conspiracy to defraud the SHA of Ksh17.5 million.
The ten counts they denied included conspiracy to defraud contrary to Section 317 of the Penal Code, misappropriation of funds contrary to Section 48(2) of the Social Health Insurance Act, abuse of office contrary to Section 101 of the Penal Code and falsification of health information.
According to the charges, the suspects jointly conspired in October 2024 and March 2025 to defraud SHA by submitting false medical claims under a medical clinic in Homa Bay County.
In the first count, they were accused of conspiracy to defraud while in the second count, four of the individuals were charged with falsification of health information.
The four were also accused of acquiring and using proceeds of crime by obtaining and utilising over Ksh17 million in fraudulent SHA payments in the third and fourth counts.
Ingarisa was among nine suspects arrested on Wednesday in connection with fraudulent claims made to SHA.
He was nabbed in Naivasha over alleged involvement in a fraudulent scheme of Ksh17.5 million made by a clinic in Oyugis.
Elijah Wachira, who also served as SHA CEO before Ingasira, was also sought in connection with the offense.
Ingisa was appointed as acting SHA chief executive officer on November 12, 2024, following the suspension of Elijah Wachira, until April 2025.
He was replaced by Mercy Mwangangi, who is currently the CEO of SHA.
