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Unfounded allegations of widespread fraud at the National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF) were grossly exaggerated to justify the controversial shift to the Social Health Authority (SHA), former NHIF CEO Geoffrey Mwangi has revealed, while shedding light on the Fund’s ambitious growth plans that were abruptly disrupted by the transition.

In an exclusive interview, Mwangi disclosed that while fraud existed within NHIF, its scale was far from the crisis portrayed by proponents of SHA. Globally, he argued, about 10% of insurance claims are fraudulent, with health insurance making up 40% of that figure, yet NHIF’s fraud levels were manageable through existing oversight mechanisms.

“The transition was politically driven, particularly profiteering in the procurement of new systems,” Mwangi said, suggesting that the move was less about tackling fraud and more about advancing hidden political and financial agendas.

Before its dismantling, Mwangi said, NHIF had undergone a dramatic transformation, shifting from a passive entity to an aggressive healthcare financier. The 2014–2018 strategic plan replaced what he called a “kingdom” mentality with a “hunter” approach, leading to explosive growth.

Membership, he revealed, surged from 4.7 million in 2014 to 7.6 million by 2018, while revenue skyrocketed from KSh 14.23 billion to KSh 51.53 billion, a 26% annual growth rate.

Strategic partnerships with Amref, PharmAccess, and Living Goods, he further revealed, boosted informal sector registrations, while expanded benefits, including outpatient coverage, cancer treatment, and emergency ambulance services, made NHIF a critical player in Kenya’s healthcare.

“We scrapped accreditation fees, onboarded over 7,500 facilities, and increased hospital rebates to between KSh 2,400 and KSh 4,000 per day,” Mwangi recounted.

The 2018–2022 strategy aimed even higher: targeting 19 million members and KSh 78 billion in revenue. Though membership fell short at 15.5 million (with only 6.4 million active contributors), revenue exceeded expectations, hitting KSh 84 billion.

However, he recounted, success came with challenges, claims consumed 89% of revenue (KSh 74.7 billion), and employer defaults pushed debt from KSh 117 million to KSh 1 billion.

Despite those challenges, Mwangi insisted that NHIF had been on a sustainable path, with fraud being a manageable issue rather than a systemic collapse. He claimed that the exaggerated fraud narrative had been used as a pretext to dismantle NHIF. He argued that the real focus should have been on enhancing service delivery, not exploiting flaws to push a new system.

The transition to SHA, however, has been marred by poor implementation and public distrust. Key NHIF programs, Edu Afya, Linda Mama, and Inua Jamii, have been scrapped, and revenue has plummeted to an average of KSh 4–5 billion monthly (down from its KSh 84 billion peak).

“SHA lacks credibility because beneficiaries don’t feel ownership. The government failed to communicate its value,” Mwangi argued, warning that without public trust, SHA’s target of Sh200 billion in revenue will remain elusive.

While President William Ruto has hailed SHA as a success, citing KSh 129 billion mobilized for healthcare, Mwangi questioned whether the new system can replicate the reach of NHIF, “a thriving institution whose growth was cut short under questionable circumstances.” https://thecountydigest.co.ke/?p=759

Why Are Our Youth Still Waiting for Jobs?

In every ward, in every sub-county, Nakuru’s youth are asking the same question: Where are the opportunities we were promised?

For too long, they’ve been treated as campaign tools used during elections and then forgotten. Since 2022, leadership has offered temporary programs, politicized bursaries, and empty promises instead of genuine investments in young people. Since 2022, it’s all been about flashy announcements that lead nowhere rather than hope. Meanwhile, an entire generation of skilled, educated, and resilient youth keeps waiting. Take Kevin, a 24-year-old from Lanet. “I trained and graduated in 2022,” he says, “but there’s no work. Every opportunity feels like it’s about who you know, not what you can do.” Where is dignity? Kevin asks. This isn’t just Kevin’s story; it reflects the experience of many more. A reality for thousands of youths across Nakuru. Talented. Trained. Skilled and Ready. But still waiting. CPA Geoffrey Gitau Mwangi is here to change that story. He is a leader with a youth-focused vision, grounded in credibility and proven experience. He’s not coming with empty slogans. He’s bringing a real plan and the expertise to implement it. Mwangi has managed billions, built scalable systems, and understands behavioral finance, innovation, youth enterprise, and how to turn good ideas into lasting jobs. Listening to him, one can see his plan for Nakuru’s youth, which includes:

• County-backed innovation hubs to help young people launch and scale businesses and support startups and SMEs
• A fully digitized vocational training system connected to industry needs
• A county-backed Youth Enterprise Investment Fund to turn ambitions into careers

This is not just a promise. It’s a plan. Under CPA Geoffrey Gitau Mwangi’s leadership, Jobs will be created, not just promised. Skills will be sharpened, not politicized. Dignity will be restored, not dangled as a favor. Mwangi believes in partnership, not patronage. He sees Nakuru’s youth not as a statistic, but as the engine of our county’s growth. He considers them partners in progress.

The future is young. And Geoffrey Gitau Mwangi is ready to invest in it. “For Nakuru Deserves Better”

Why don’t you join the movement? Be part of the change. #YouthWithGGMwangi

I join the people of Molo and all justice and peace loving Kenyans in mourning the senseless killing of Benson Njuguna, a student from Njenga Karume Secondary School,gunned down during a peaceful protest. This was not just a tragedy it was a national loss. An injustice, enabled by a system that fears accountability and targets innocent youth for demanding a better future.

The protests in Molo were not violent riots. They were a powerful cry for justice and a rejection of an oppressive system. Instead of listening, certain leaders chose to hire goons to sabotage the youth’s peaceful movement and taint its message. The Gen Zs are only asking for transparency and a listening leadership. Is that a sin? Definitely not!! The people of Molo are not blind. We know who betrayed us. We know who is for us and who is against us.

To Benson’s family: we grieve with you, we pray for comfort even as you come to terms with this loss. May his death not be in vain.

This generation is awake. We will not be silenced. Justice must be served. The truth cannot be buried. And those responsible will be held to account by the people, and by history.

Geoffrey Gitau Mwangi is a transformative leader. A dedicated peace patron, and aspires to be the Governor of Nakuru in 2027. With a proven track record in public finance and health policy, he is recognized for his commitment to community cohesion and sustainable development. Mwangi has significantly impacted initiatives like Linda Mama and Edu-Afya, demonstrating his strategic vision and collaborative approach. His focus on innovation and growth positions him to drive meaningful change for Nakuru’s residents. Nakuru deserves better!

I am committed to making Nakuru a model county by engaging directly with the people at the grassroots level by listening, learning, and walking with them. True leadership starts with understanding the community’s needs and building solutions together. These interactions reinforce my belief that Nakuru’s transformation lies in our unity, ideas, and collective will. Together, we will create a county where every voice matters, every dream is valid, and every citizen thrives. www.brighternakuru.com

Since 2022, Nakuru residents have raised critical concerns; dry taps, joblessness , poor roads , but county leadership keeps turning a deaf ear.

CPA Geoffrey Gitau Mwangi is a different kind of leader. Soft-spoken, detail-oriented, and people-centered. GGM as commonly known made his mark by actively listening, restoring institutional trust, and engaging communities. He brings more than 25 years of strategic public service leadership. As NHIF CEO, he earned trust by holding genuine dialogues with stakeholders, restoring morale, and implementing reforms. As a leader, Geoffrey will walk with wananchi, ward by ward, issue by issue. Listening won’t be a campaign tool. It will be a daily leadership requirement for service delivery to all of us. Nakuru County deserves a governor who listens and acts for and with the interests of the citizens.