A startling revelation has emerged in the ongoing investigation into the defunct EduAfya student health scheme, as the Auditor General Nancy Gathungu has flagged an alarming Sh2.2 billion overpayment.
According to a special audit, the Ministry of Education disbursed a staggering Sh16.4 billion for health services that were worth only Sh5.3 billion.
This discrepancy raises serious concerns about the management and oversight of the scheme, which was intended to provide healthcare coverage to students across the country.
The audit further highlights the shocking discovery that some beneficiaries of the scheme were from non-existent schools, while over 4,000 learners from primary and Junior Secondary Schools (JSS) unlawfully accessed the health coverage.
These irregularities suggest a significant breach of protocol and further intensify the calls for greater accountability in the implementation of national health programs.
The report criticizes both the Ministries of Education and Health for systemic failures in oversight, accusing them of inflating premiums and approving disbursements that were never properly reconciled.
This is seen as a glaring example of mismanagement, especially considering the national budgetary constraints in the education and health sectors.
These findings are particularly concerning given the scope of the scheme, which was meant to provide essential health services to the nation’s students. The scheme’s collapse raises important questions about the handling of public funds and the effectiveness of government health initiatives.
The Auditor General has called for immediate steps to address the mismanagement, including thorough investigations and the implementation of stronger controls to prevent such massive oversights in the future.
The public has expressed outrage over the findings, with many questioning how such a large-scale failure was allowed to persist. Calls for transparency, accountability, and reform are growing louder, as citizens demand that the responsible parties be held to account.
This scandal is expected to have significant ramifications for both the Education and Health ministries, and it remains to be seen whether it will lead to a broader investigation into other government health schemes.
The government must act swiftly to restore public trust in its ability to manage essential services.
