NHIF CEO Samson Kuhora Grilled Over Edu-Afya Scheme Failure

 A photo collage of NHIF Acting CEO, Dr. Samson Kuhora appearing before the National Assembly's Committee on Public Petitions  and high school students at an NHIF stand in 2019
A photo collage of NHIF Acting CEO, Dr. Samson Kuhora appearing before the National Assembly's Committee on Public Petitions and high school students at an NHIF stand in 2019.
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Parliament of Kenya/ NHIF

Members of Parliament (MPs) on Tuesday, April 26, grilled National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF) Chief Executive Officer Samson Kuhora over the botched Edu-Afya Scheme.

National Assembly Committee on Public Petitions chair, Nimrod Mbai, claimed that despite the government paying billions for the scheme, there was little public awareness of the same.

He thus sought clarification on whether the poor public sensitisation was deliberate. 

Edu-Afya was launched in 2018 to provide comprehensive outpatient and inpatient medical treatment for students, even those travelling abroad for further studies. 

National Assembly's Committee on Public Petitions Chaired by Hon. Nimrod Mbai  grills NHIF   NHIF) Acting CEO, Dr. Samson Kuhora
National Assembly's Committee on Public Petitions Chaired by Hon. Nimrod Mbai grills NHIF Ag CEO, Dr. Samson Kuhora on April 25. 2023.
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Parliament of Kenya

The cover provides for road and air evacuation, dental, optical, group personal accident, group life, and specialized services.

"Is it that you want to save money? You aren't shouting enough for parents, schools and students to know about this program," the Chair questioned.

In addition, the committee raised concerns over the prevalence of graft in the project, which saw unscrupulous individuals and facilities benefit instead of students.

“Can you confirm to this committee that you have the capacity to do your surveillance of corruption and fraud cases? What are the measures you have placed to curb this and what are the checks and balances you have provided?” Vihiga MP Ernest Kagesi posed.

The NHIF Boss admitted that the Insurer did have a system, but they had a roadmap for flagging out the fraud cases.

Mbeere South MP Nebart Muriuki wondered why students were required to provide letters from their Principals, yet each student had a National Education Management Information System (NEMIS) number.

Furthermore, the Committee established that the Ministry of Education had been served medical bills for non-existent patients.

Also appearing before the Committee, National Parents Association (NPA) Chairperson, David Obuhatsa revealed that the program was limited due to challenges in health facilities.

The MPs proposed that a fully equipped clinic be constructed in every school. However, Obuhatsa stated that it would be costly and counter-proposed that facilities should instead be equipped.

A photo showing National the Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF) headquarters in Nairobi.
National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF) headquarters in Nairobi.
Photo
NHIF
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