President William Ruto yesterday said corruption at the Social Health Authority (SHA) was exposed through systems his administration has put in place. He reaffirmed his commitment to take action against all those implicated.

Speaking after a church service at the Kenya Medical Training College in Siaya County, the President said individuals involved in the theft of public funds would be compelled to refund the money. He vowed to sustain his administration’s anti-graft campaign and urged leaders to work together for the country’s growth.

“The reason we are unearthing theft in the Social Health Authority and corruption in hospitals is because the system is now able to detect fraud,” Ruto said.

The President was accompanied by Siaya Governor James Orengo, Senator Oburu Oginga, and MPs Gideon Ochanda (Bondo), Samuel Atandi (Alego-Usonga), Mark Nyamita (Uriri), David Ochieng (Ugenya), Otiende Amollo (Rarieda), Elisha Odhiambo (Gem), Felix Odiwuor (Lang’ata), and Tindi Mwale (Butere). Also present were Principal Secretaries Raymond Omollo (Interior) and Ouma Oluga (Health), as well as Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) Secretary-General Collins Oyuu.

Ruto warned that those who thought they could replicate the theft carried out at the defunct NHIF were “daydreaming”.

“If you stole any money from NHIF or SHA, you will pay because we must be accountable,” he said, adding that his government would not bow to detractors.

The President also announced that an electronic procurement system would be rolled out across government to enhance transparency.

“I know accounting and procurement officers are resisting it because they want to continue with fraud, but there is no turning back. Anyone unwilling to implement e-procurement can as well leave government,” he said.

Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi backed the President, accusing individuals implicated in graft of sponsoring false narratives to shield themselves.

“Procurement officers don’t want to let go of the old system because they have been stealing through it,” Mbadi said.

Mbadi clarified that the e-procurement platform was acquired in 2020, before he took office, at a cost of Sh370 million, and not Sh5 billion as claimed in some reports.

Ugenya MP David Ochieng and Uriri MP Mark Nyamita urged the President to go further and deal firmly with those responsible for graft. Ochieng said publicly naming culprits would send a strong warning, while Nyamita stressed that punishing offenders was the only way to restore public trust.