Andrew Kipkirui Rotich, a seasoned auditor at Kenya’s Social Health Authority (SHA), was fired after exposing a massive medical billing racket that defrauded taxpayers of billions of shillings. Rotich’s forensic audit uncovered fraudulent claims, including charges for nonexistent services and ghost patients, leading to the suspension of over 80 health facilities in September.
His findings, handed over to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) in 1,188 files, prompted Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale to reject Sh10.6 billion in fraudulent claims, a critical step toward safeguarding funds during Kenya’s transition to universal health coverage.
Rotich, with over 21 years of audit experience, was among three deputy directors excluded from a court-ordered re-recruitment process at SHA, alongside Halima Gurai Saney and Reuben Mutwiri Mutuura.
The trio’s dismissal followed a High Court ruling by Justice Reuben Nyakundi, which deemed an earlier SHA recruitment process irregular. No official explanation for Rotich’s termination was provided, fuelling speculation about retaliation for his whistleblowing.
His supervisor, Pariken Sankei, also faces potential dismissal, as SHA re-advertised the internal audit director position with a deadline of October 3, 2025.
Civil society groups, including KELIN Kenya, condemned the firing, calling it a blow to whistleblower protection.
“Dismissing auditors who expose corruption is tantamount to endorsing graft,” said KELIN’s executive director, Allan Maleche. Online platforms buzzed with outrage, with users questioning why Kenya’s Whistleblower Protection Bill 2021 remains unimplemented.
The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has not commented on Rotich’s case, despite previously investigating similar SHA frauds and flagging systemic issues in a March 2025 report.
The medical billing racket involved hospitals inflating claims, billing for fictitious patients, and disguising outpatient visits as costly inpatient procedures. One facility was traced to a nonexistent location, a thicket, highlighting the audacity of the fraud.
Rotich’s work led to the closure of 1,300 rogue facilities, bolstering public trust in SHA’s digital platform, which replaced the scandal-plagued National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF).
However, his dismissal raises concerns about SHA’s commitment to transparency. As investigations continue, MPs like Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna demand stronger action against corruption in SHA, citing Auditor General Nancy Gathungu’s reports on procurement irregularities.
With Kenya losing over KSh 67 billion to pension and health fraud between 2013 and 2020, Rotich’s case underscores the risks whistleblowers face in confronting entrenched corruption.