The management at Nyandiwa Level 4 Hospital in Suba South has defended the Social Health Authority (SHA) against claims that the agency wired KSh20 million to a non-existent health facility in Homa Bay County.

Hospital officials clarified that the funds were remitted to their account, contrary to reports suggesting the money went to Nyandiwa Health Centre in West Kamagak, Kasipul Constituency.

Dr. Fredrick Owino, the medical officer in charge, explained that the hospital operates a bank account under the name Nyandiwa Dispensary, which may have triggered confusion.

He said indeed they received the funds from SHA and their facility is functional.

The hospital has since continued to serve patients, among them Jane Sugu, who was admitted on Friday with severe stomach discomfort. She was later diagnosed with typhoid and her treatment fully covered by SHA.

SHA Chief Executive Officer Mercy Mwangangi last week dismissed claims of disbursing KSh20 million to a non-existent facility, terming the reports not only as false, but also misleading.

SHA also clarified that Nyandiwa Level 4 Hospital in Suba South has been operational since the 1970s and was previously known as Nyandiwa Dispensary before its upgrade.

The Authority noted that it is standard practice for hospitals to retain their existing bank account names even after transitioning to higher-level facilities.

“The disbursement of KSh19,998,720 represents legitimate and accumulated claims duly processed in line with SHA’s strict verification and payment protocols,” the statement read.

According to SHA, the abandoned building highlighted in the media is one of the incomplete structures left by a former county administration and has never been contracted by SHA.

The public was also urged to access all payment details through SHA’s official website, where disbursement records are published regularly.