Wamuzi News Ke
A storm is brewing inside the Social Health Authority (SHA) after staff members raised alarm over what they describe as a “blatantly irregular and opaque” appointment to the high-ranking position of Deputy Director of Claims Management (Vacancy No. SHA/140/2025).
According to internal reports and leaked documents seen by multiple insiders, the position — which had attracted 54 qualified applicants — was allegedly filled without any of the candidates being shortlisted, interviewed, or notified of the outcome.
Even more alarming, sources claim the individual who assumed the position never applied for the job, in what staff describe as a shocking violation of merit-based hiring procedures and a direct breach of the Public Service Commission Act.
The revelation has sparked outrage among employees, with several describing the move as an “insult to professionalism” and a dangerous precedent for public institutions entrusted with national health resources.
Documents circulating internally indicate that shortly after the appointment, the newly installed official allegedly requested a personal office fitted with a private toilet, an exclusive office vehicle, and additional entitlements that far exceed standard provisions for the job group.
Staff representatives are now demanding an urgent review of the recruitment process and have called on oversight agencies to intervene. Some are pushing for disciplinary action or a legal audit to determine whether due process was deliberately subverted.
“This appointment completely disregards established recruitment procedures and makes a mockery of public service transparency,” one staff member, speaking on condition of anonymity, said.
“We demand accountability from those who orchestrated it.”The Public Service Commission is yet to issue an official statement regarding the alleged procedural violations, but legal experts warn that such actions, if proven true, could constitute a breach of multiple public sector ethics and governance laws.
The Social Health Authority, which plays a crucial role in implementing Kenya’s new universal health coverage reforms, now faces mounting pressure to restore public confidence amid growing scrutiny of its internal operations and governance practices.
As investigations and internal murmurs intensify, all eyes remain on the SHA Board and the Public Service Commission to determine whether the controversial appointment will stand — or if disciplinary and legal action will follow.
