Former Chief Justice David Maraga has called on the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) to investigate the Social Health Authority (SHA) payments fiasco, where billions of shillings have allegedly been lost.

Justice (Rtd) Maraga said all money lost must be recovered, and those responsible should face the law.

“Fraudsters must pay. This is not negotiable. If you cannot act, then you are part of the problem. Kenyans demand accountability,” he said.

Further, he demanded that the Ministry of Health, SHA, and all concerned authorities disclose how much money has been collected under the scheme, how much Parliament allocated through the Primary Health Care and Emergency Fund, and the names of hospitals and any other service providers paid.

Maraga took issue with the shutting down of Kenya Master Facility Registry (KMFR) saying it’s a breach of Kenyans constitutional rights as the site enables verification of government records on hospitals.

On Monday, SHA pulled down from its website a list detailing payments of claims to hospitals.

The KMHFR was also disabled, making it difficult for the public to verify hospital details and track payments.

The move comes amid growing uproar and scrutiny over irregular disbursements, including payments made to ghost facilities.

Some hospitals flagged in the scheme, meant to replace the defunct National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) were found to be in deplorable condition.

For instance, some facilities classified as Level 4 lack a single inpatient bed, while others operate from a single room resembling a kiosk.

The KMHFR contains critical data on all health facilities, including their geographical location, bed capacities, and regulatory bodies.

“It is a public site, and by pulling it down, the ministry is going against the right to access information. It also shows a ministry that has no control over its own data,” said Dr Brian Lishenga, chairperson of the Rural and Urban Private Hospitals Association of Kenya.