NHIF suspends exercise to recruit new CEO
The National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF) has suspended the exercise to recruit a new CEO.
In a statement dated June 20, 2023, acting CEO Samson Kuhora said that the board had resolved to restart the exercise afresh to recruit a new CEO and six directors on June 27, 2023.
“Consequently, the board unanimously resolved to terminate the ongoing recruitment and will initiate a fresh process,” Kuhora said.
“The re-advertisement for the vacant positions of CEO and six directors will be published on June 27, 2023.”
Kuhora was appointed as the acting CEO in March after the term of former CEO Peter Kamunyo ended in April. Kuhora is NHIF's current head of benefits designs and claims management.
The board had completed the exercise of shortlisting the candidates for the position, and health CS Susan Nakhumicha was expected to name a new CEO by the end of May.
NHIF scandal
The suspension comes days after a report alleged that hospitals have been stealing from Kenyans by inflating bills, which they then charge to the national insurer. Senior NHIF officials were said to be involved.
As a result, Nakhumicha announced that all NHIF branch managers in the affected areas had been suspended pending a thorough investigation.
"To ensure that facilities suspected of these ills do not continue siphoning resources from patients and government, I hereby direct that all branch managers from all the suspected areas be suspended immediately pending investigations," she ordered.
The CS also ordered a lifestyle audit on all NHIF staff members following the scandal.
