The Social Health Authority (SHA) has dismissed claims that whistleblower Andrew Kipkurui Rotich lost his job after exposing a multibillion-shilling fraud in the healthcare system.
In a statement issued on Wednesday evening, SHA Board Chairperson Dr. Abdi Mohamed clarified that Rotich remains in public service and currently serves as a Senior Officer under transitional arrangements.
“Mr Rotich has not lost his job. Mr Rotich remains an employee of the public service deployed to the Social Health Authority, currently holding the position of Senior Officer. His current temporary deployment and tenure are protected under the transitional arrangements,” said Dr. Mohamed.
Dr. Mohamed further revealed that Rotich did not apply for the position of Deputy Director, Internal Audit, in the ongoing recruitment exercise.
The Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Kenya (ICPAK) and the Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA) Kenya had earlier raised concerns over Rotich’s exclusion from a recent shortlist for senior audit roles, urging an independent inquiry and stronger protection for whistleblowers.
SHA defended the recruitment process as fair and transparent, insisting that only applicants for advertised positions could be considered.
“SHA Recruitment Portal records confirm that Mr Rotich did not apply for the position of Deputy Director, Internal Audit in this exercise. He submitted only one application for this tier, specifically for the position of Assistant Director, Internal Audit. Neither did he submit a physical application for any position,” Dr. Mohamed stated.
“Ultimately, the Board can only consider and shortlist individuals who have expressed willingness by formally applying for the advertised position. The Authority cannot force any qualified individual to apply,” he added, noting that Rotich had not lodged any appeal against his non-shortlisting.
SHA also stressed that the recruitment process is guided by law and court rulings. It cited a May 29, 2025, judgment in ELRC Petition No. E078 of 2025 (Said Omar Abdile vs. Social Health Authority & 3 Others), which nullified all earlier appointments, including Rotich’s promotion to Deputy Director, and forced the Authority to restart the process.
“The positions offered in this recruitment, including Mr Rotich’s appointment as Deputy Director, were nullified by the 29th May 2025 court order,” Dr. Mohamed noted.
The Board Chair urged the media to “exercise caution and diligence in reporting to ensure that only correct information is relayed to the public,” while reaffirming SHA’s commitment to meritocracy, transparency, and adherence to the rule of law.
SHA added that all shortlisted candidates for the Deputy Director, Internal Audit role are registered members of ICPAK and/or IIA, underscoring its commitment to strengthening internal audit functions.
The Authority further highlighted its use of digital systems powered by artificial intelligence and big data fraud engines to track fraudulent claims. It confirmed that evidence from these systems has already been shared with the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) to aid in prosecuting rogue health facilities.
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