NHIF exposes groups conning members of the public

The National Hospital Insurance Fund has warned members of the public to be wary of fraudsters purporting to collect premiums on its behalf.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, Acting NHIF CEO Nicodemus Odongo said the public should not be duped into making payments through unauthorised persons or groups.

”It is illegal for any unauthorised person or group to purport to collect money on behalf of the Fund. The unauthorized groups, mostly operating in Nyeri and Muranga counties, are defrauding unsuspecting members of the public,” warned Mr. Odongo.

NHIF named three organisations that allegedly had been collecting money from the public illegally.

They are Muungano Mwema Enterprise also known as John Macharia Gichoho (JOMAGI) in the Karatina, Mukuru Ini, Kieni, and Othaya in Nyeri County, Josmah Commercial Agencies in Kieni, Nyeri County and Lee Factor Enterprises Services in Muranga and Kangema.

”The groups have been reported to the police and are under investigations with intent to prosecute. The list is not conclusive as there may be others not known to the Fund”

The public has been advised to deal with NHIF directly through the various offices countrywide in all counties and through the Huduma Centres.

“Monthly payments of Kshs.500 by self-employed people should ONLY be made through M-Pesa, Paybill number 200222, then entering one’s ID number as the account number, or through the National Bank, Kenya Commercial Bank, Equity bank and Cooperative Bank,” said the NHIF boss.

NHIF said it had not appointed any groups or individuals to collect money on its behalf, and asked members of the public to report such individuals or groups purporting to be NHIF agents to the police or the nearest NHIF office.