The Rural Private Hospitals Association of Kenya (RUPHA) has sounded the alarm after revelations that a closed hospital in Nyandarua County is still receiving millions of shillings under the Social Health Authority (SHA) scheme, even as many deserving facilities continue to struggle for support.

In a statement posted on X account on Thursday, September 4, 2025, RUPHA questioned why the facility, which was shut down in 2022 following damning revelations of patient abuse, is still listed as compliant and actively receiving disbursements from SHA. The association revealed that records show the hospital and its annexe have received a total of Ksh13.7 million, despite its closure more than two years ago.

“This is all well and good until we consider that Sipili Maternity and Nursing Home was closed in February 2022 after NTV exposed shocking and disturbing tales of drugging and sexual abuse of female patients at Sipili Maternity & Nursing Home,” RUPHA said

Committee visit sparks outrage

RUPHA said its concern was triggered after the Parliamentary Health Committee visited the facility this week on a “SHA fact-finding mission.” According to the association, the committee went on to declare the hospital “fully SHA compliant” and cited it as proof that the health financing model is working in the Central region

“Yesterday, the Parliamentary Health Committee visited this hospital on a SHA fact-finding mission and unanimously declared that the hospital was fully SHA compliant and had received lots of money from SHA. Based on this, the committee declared that SHA is working in the Central Region,” RUPHA said.

However, the association pointed out the glaring contradiction, reminding authorities and Kenyans that the facility was closed in February 2022 after a major investigative exposé aired by a local media house laid bare shocking accounts of abuse.

Calls for accountability

The association questioned why the hospital remains open in official registers and continues to receive SHA payments while functional hospitals, especially those serving rural communities, are starved of resources.

“We ask the Ministry of Health, SHA, DCI Kenya, why this hospital is still open by KMPDC and continues to receive payments from SHA while deserving hospitals are holding out a begging bowl,” RUPHA wrote.

The revelation has added to growing questions about transparency in the rollout of SHA and its disbursement criteria. With billions already released nationally, the case in Nyandarua paints a worrying picture of oversight gaps that could undermine confidence in the scheme.

For RUPHA, the issue is not only about accountability of funds but also about justice for patients and communities whose health needs remain unmet while money flows to ghost facilities. The association has called on regulators and investigators to move swiftly and explain how a closed hospital is drawing funds, and why enforcement mechanisms appear to have failed.