Ex-Isiolo South MP, wife arrested over multi-million NHIF graft scandal

Detectives from the Ethics and Anti Corruption Commission have arrested immediate former Isiolo South MP Abdi Koropu and his wife Halima Gura Roka over money laundering and the latter's involvement in a multi-million National Health Insurance Fund scandal.

The detectives recovered millions of fake currency (in US dollars) stashed in two briefcases and some assorted chemicals suspected to be used in the printing of the money at their residence within Greenspark in Nairobi.

Abdi allegedly shot at the officers before he was disarmed and it was later established that his firearm license for the Ceska pistol had expired.

EACC Spokesperson Eric Ngumbi told The Eastleigh Voice that Halima, a former quality assurance officer at NHIF, was among the seven prime suspects who the agency had been trailing over fraudulent payment of Sh199 million by NHIF to Beirut Pharmacy that she was associated with.

The money was wired to the company between 2021 and 2023.

FORMER ISIOLO SOUTH MP AND HIS WIFE ARRESTED; MP OPENS FIRE AT EACC DETECTIVES INVESTIGATING THE NHIF SCANDAL
Former Isiolo South MP Hon. Abdi Tepo and his wife Halima Gura Roka, a Quality Assurance Officer at the defunct National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF) have been… pic.twitter.com/8ziUDxqfQc

— EACC (@EACCKenya) July 25, 2024

"They were both taken to the EACC police station where they recorded statements," Ngumbi said.

The couple were handed over to DCI alongside the recovered fake notes, pistol, expired firearm permit and assorted chemicals.

Other suspects sought were the Eastleigh NHIF Branch Manager and five Directors of Beirut Pharmacy that was paid the money through fictitious claims facilitated by rogue NHIF officials.

EACC will after the conclusion of investigations hand over the file to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions to prosecute the suspects.

"We will also make an application in court to have the suspects return the stolen public funds," he noted.