Corruption claims must lead to action, not just headlines - NCCK

The chairman of the National Council of Churches of Kenya (NCCK), Rev. Dr. Elias Otieno Agola, has expressed skepticism over the timing and focus of Kenya’s anti-corruption campaigns, cautioning that the public may be distracted from deeper, more significant issues.

Speaking during an interview on Radio Generation, Otieno said that while corruption has been widely discussed and investigated, there appears to be a pattern of selective targeting.

“In my opinion, I’m suspicious of every move. Anybody who is in politics… there must be something huge that somebody is running away from and distracting people from, so that we turn our heads towards who is talking and run away from what is happening,” he said on Tuesday.

He suggested that allegations often serve to remove individuals from key positions rather than genuinely address corruption.

“That is exactly what I’m saying. And it is all about the institutions that are already there. Maybe something is cooking in Parliament… You create a story, you create a narrative… and everybody role-plays,” Otieno explained.

The chairman cautioned that raising corruption claims without concrete action undermines public trust.

“When you are raising it, and you are the one who has the Constitution, all the laws, and you also have the sword, you have the correction centers, why don’t you take them there? Who has been picked and taken there? I’m only saying, don’t distract us from the key issues that are affecting this country,” he said.

Over the weekend, President William Ruto reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to fighting graft, announcing a sweeping crackdown on health facilities accused of defrauding the Social Health Authority (SHA).

Speaking at the installation of Bishop John Kiplimo Lelei in Nandi County, Ruto revealed that over 1,000 hospitals had their licences revoked.

“Tumeondoa leseni ya mahospitali zaidi ya 1000 ambao wanafuja pesa ya mambo ya afya. Na hatua ondyo leseni peke yake, tutawafuata watalipa hizo pesa, na tutawapeleka kortini,” he declared, promising that offenders would face both fines and prosecution.

Translation: We have revoked the licenses of more than 1000 hospitals that are wasting health funds. And the only action that is being taken is the license, we will pursue them, they will pay the money, and we will take them to court,

The crackdown targets a network of hospitals accused of falsifying claims, admitting patients unnecessarily, and creating ghost patients to siphon funds. Ruto also vowed to recover stolen public funds from the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF) and prosecute those responsible.

“Any hospital, whether public, private or faith-based, if they have stolen NHIF money, they will pay that money. If they have brought corruption to SHIF, they will pay back that money and we will prosecute them,” he said.

Ruto highlighted that SHIF’s digital monitoring system has exposed irregularities that persisted under the defunct NHIF, with the government now verifying Sh30 billion owed to hospitals. “Every shilling must serve the people,” he said.

Reflecting on these developments, Otieno urged authorities to prioritize real action over theatrics.

“I am not going to just board, because somebody has mentioned some things. We’ve had all this for many years, but I am suspicious that there is something huge that is happening… Somebody may come here and say I was right,” he said.

He added that selective targeting risks overshadowing systemic issues.

“Corruption is not only stealing from the public; it is betraying trust. Leaders must act, not just talk,” he said.