By PETER ORENGO
There was drama at the National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF) headquarters that resulted into the suspension of the fund’s Chairman Professor Richard Muga by the Government barely hours after he had suspended the Chief Executive Richard Kerich and four other members of the management.
But even as this was going on, it emerged that a company, which received Sh202 million from NHIF to cover medical services between January and March this year is 99 per cent, owned by a mysterious person whose identity was allegedly being protected by unknown people.
A parliamentary committee on Thursday claimed that Clinix Healthcare Ltd, received Sh91.3million for 21 facilities across the country that were not open by the time of the signing of a contract with NHIF in January this year terming the payments as “fraud”.
The morning drama started moments after a boards meeting that was attended by ten directors failed to agree on a proposal tabled by Professor Muga, that included suspending part of the management over a string of scandals at the multibillion scheme.
Professor Muga went ahead and suspended the officers, a decision that infuriated other board members and even invited the wrath of Medical Services Minister Professor Anyang Nyong’o who overturned the decision and suspended the NHIF Chairman.
“The Board of NHIF has communicated to me that you unilaterally sacked the chief executive and four others managers. You have no mandate as the chairman. This is a breach of protocol and insubordination to me,” said Professor Nyong’o.
But Muga stood his ground and dared the minister to go ahead and de-gazette him since Nyong’o was not the appointing authority.
“ I stand my ground. If I am sacked, I will go back to my home and my job at the Great Lakes University college,” said Professor Muga.
Earlier at a press conference, Professor Muga released the news of the suspension of the current CEO and replaced him with Dr George Midiwo, who is the General Manager Benefits and Quality Assurance.
Their differences of board members played out publicly as they clashed before TV cameras, with the chairman often interjecting his deputy’s assertions.
