UNIVERSAL HEALTH COVERAGE GHOST WORKERS

The Council of Governors has revealed that there are 3000 ghost workers masquerading as Universal Health Coverage staff. Millions of shillings earmarked for frontline county health workers may have been misappropriated by shadowy cartels operating within the Ministry of Health.  A confidential document from the ministry of health reveals major discrepancies between the ministry’s payroll and the Council of Governors’ register of Universal Health Coverage {UHC} staff.

These inconsistencies raise concerns that thousands of individuals listed as healthcare workers may be fictitious or no longer employed in the roles for which they are being paid. Originally introduced with the goal of revolutionizing healthcare in 47 counties, the UHC program is now under serious scrutiny. Its promises of equitable, quality care appears undermined by alleged payroll fraud, with reports indicating that salaries are still being issued to individuals who are deceased, have emigrated, or are no longer active in the health sector.

Chair of the Council of Governors Health Committee Muthomi Njuki has said that the government of Kenya is losing billions by paying ghost UHC workers who cannot be accounted for. He added that the official list claims there are 8,700 UHC workers, but from the county level verification, only 5,700 can be accounted for, leaving around 3,000 names that are highly questionable.