The board of the Social Health Authority (SHA) has sent the acting CEO Elijah Wachira on compulsory leave.
In a letter seen by K24 Digital on Tuesday, November 12, 2024, the board indicated that Wachira was to proceed on leave for 90 days.
“This is to inform you of the resolution of the board to send you on compulsory leave effective immediately for a period of 90 days to allow for further investigations on your professional conduct and performance as the acting CEO of the Social Health Authority,” the letter read in part.
“While on leave, you shall be entitled to all your current remuneration and benefits. The board has further appointed Robert Ingasira as the Acting CEO while you are on leave. Therefore, please hand over the office to him immediately.”
Wachira who assumed office in October 2023 as the managing director of the now defunct National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF) was quickly moved to be the Acting CEO of the SHA during its rollout on October 1, 2024.
Wachira, a seasoned insurer had worked with various insurance companies including Madison Insurance, Gateway Insurance and CIC General Insurance. He also worked with the AAR Health Services.
Wachira was charged with overseeing the new health authority which has experienced a host of challenges during its rollout and implementation.
With five weeks into its rollout, many patients have reported delays in the pre-authorisation and processing of claims.
Additionally, the government has remained mum on the debts owed to health service providers by the defunct NHIF.
Several patients were turned away after failing to top up payments of their insurance covers while a majority of Kenyans had yet to pay the premiums despite being registered.
On November 12, 2024, the leader of the majority party in the National Assembly Kimani Ichung’wah revealed that 14.4 million Kenyans had registered with SHA.
He also indicated that the acting CEO of SHA had informed him that some 140,000 Kenyans had been registered on Tuesday alone.
Suba South MP Caroli Omondi challenged Ichung’wah that out of the 14 million registered Kenyans, only 700,000 were paid up, chiefly due to being employed formally.
