Catholic Bishop Joseph Obanyi has strongly rejected Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi’s claim that St Mary’s Mission Hospital in Mumias received Sh82 million from the Social Health Authority (SHA).
Obanyi, who oversees the Kakamega and Vihiga dioceses, insisted the mission hospital has only received Sh9 million since June 2025 — money specifically allocated to its renal unit. He said the facility is still grappling with financial strain due to unpaid claims.
Mudavadi’s Statement Sparks Controversy
On Thursday, PCS Mudavadi announced that SHA had disbursed Sh82 million to St Mary’s out of the Sh117 million owed, accusing hospital management of mismanagement and misleading the public about the reasons behind its closure.
He backed his remarks with a Ministry of Health report showing:
- Sh92.9 million paid to the hospital between November 2024 and August 2025.
- Sh5.7 million issued under the Primary Healthcare Fund.
- Sh4.8 million most recently released in August 2025.
The report further revealed that claims worth Sh10.2 million were returned due to incomplete documentation, while Sh11.4 million were rejected over compliance issues. It also noted that Sh14.8 million disbursed in July and August was used to clear staff salary arrears.
“The hospital put forward a claim of Sh117 million under SHA, and so far, they have received Sh82 million in payment,” Mudavadi said.
“If anyone disputes this, I am ready to produce records of what was received last year and in subsequent months under the SHA programme.”
Bishop Obanyi’s Response
Bishop Obanyi dismissed the PCS’s figures as misleading.
“We have only received about Sh9 million designated for the renal unit. The hospital has not received any payments from SHA claims. Saying Sh82 million has been disbursed while the hospital remains closed is pure politics,” he said.
He emphasized that St Mary’s, being a mission hospital serving poor communities, is not government-run and continues to suffer because of delayed reimbursements.
Obanyi added that SHA owes the facility Sh143 million since the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) was replaced. Out of this, only Sh39 million has reportedly been processed but remains under verification.
SHA Declines to Confirm Report
When contacted, SHA Chairman Abdi Mohamed distanced the authority from the report shared by Mudavadi, noting that only the hospital’s management could confirm its authenticity.
“The best people to confirm will be the management. Let me forward the message to them,” he told The Standard.
Hospital Closure
The financial deadlock forced St Mary’s Mission Hospital to suspend operations on July 1, 2025. Staff members received email notifications from the Human Resources department instructing them not to report to work until further notice.
What’s at Stake
The dispute underscores the wider challenges facing mission hospitals under the new SHA programme. With unpaid claims piling up, patients are left stranded while political and administrative battles play out over accountability and funding.