The controversy surrounding the Social Health Authority has taken a sharp turn in Homa Bay after reports revealed that money was directed to facilities that no longer exist or have not been functioning for years.
One of the main cases involves Nyandiwa Dispensary in West Karachuonyo Ward, a structure that has been deserted for more than ten years. Despite its state, the dispensary was listed as active and allocated Sh20 million in August.
According to records, it allegedly treated patients and submitted claims for reimbursement, but a physical visit painted a very different picture. Journalists who toured the site on Thursday found the compound empty, with only cattle grazing and some grass that appeared to have been cleared by hired youths in preparation for the visit.
The situation has left residents both puzzled and angry. For years, people in the area have had to travel long distances to access treatment, yet millions were being funneled to a facility that has not been offering services.
Some questioned how such an allocation could pass through county and national health systems without anyone noticing.
The Director of Public Health in Homa Bay, Amos Dullo, admitted openly that the dispensary has not been in operation for many years and is not even registered under the SHA program.
He pointed to what he called a mix-up, saying that the money was intended for Nyandiwa Level Four Hospital but somehow ended up in the name of the abandoned dispensary.
Health CS Aden Duale. Photo Courtesy.
This explanation, however, has not cleared the air. Evidence shows that similar irregular transfers have occurred in both Homa Bay and Siaya counties, raising fears that ghost facilities have been used as conduits for siphoning public funds.
The confusion over bank account details and the redirection of money to wrong institutions is now being seen as more than just a clerical error.
Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale confirmed that his ministry had detected the issue and described it as a case of confusion, but he also admitted that the SHA system may have been manipulated.
Governor Gladys Wanga has found herself at the center of the storm because the abandoned dispensary lies within her county.
Many are demanding that she provide clear answers on how her administration allowed such a lapse. The matter has also sparked public frustration as Kenyans are grappling with rising healthcare costs while billions of taxpayers’ money risk being lost to ghost projects.
The growing scandal has now intensified calls for accountability, with both county and national leaders expected to act swiftly to restore public trust.
