Gatanga MP made Sh500m from NHIF

Gatanga MP Edward Muriu’s law firm made Sh500 million in a business deal with the now defunct National Health Insurance Fund, the Star can reveal.

It has emerged that the first-term lawmaker allied to former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua landed the windfall for the provision of legal services to NHIF.

Through his law firm, Muriu Mungai and Company Advocates, NHIF contracted the MP in 2018 to draft contracts between the fund and several healthcare providers.

The healthcare facilities were to be engaged in the provision of medical care and treatment services to its beneficiaries for the financial year 2018-19.

“Consequently, the advocates submitted their fee not based on the provisions of Schedule 5 of the Advocates Remuneration Order 2014 totaling to about Sh500 million,” an internal NHIF document seen by the Star states.

On Thursday, the MP confirmed the deal, adding that the government paid his firm the entire amount for the work done.

“It is work done in 2018. We delivered the instructions and paid our fees. Zero balance,” the lawmaker said.

Speaking in a local TV station, Moses Kuria, a senior economic advisor to President William Ruto, claimed Muriu’s firm was paid Sh1 billion.

“Do you know how much NHIF spent on just doing the contract? Sh1 billion. A law firm by the name of MMC, whose owner is Wakili Muriu, MP for Gatanga. He was paid Sh1 billion for photocopying papers,” Kuria alleged.

But the MP dismissed the claims, adding that those peddling the allegations were looking for scapegoats after the public outrage following the auditor general’s expose on illegalities in the procurement of the Social Health Authority system.

“It happens when you are caught with your hands in the cookie jar. Find out from him (Kuria) whether he will wish away the Sh104 billion that has been pocketed to deliver a dead computer system,” Muriu said.

NHIF and Muriu’s firm signed a service level agreement on June 14, 2018, paving the way for the company to execute the work.

The firm accepted the instructions to draft the contracts and commissions.

Muriu’s firm also agreed to negotiate the terms of the contracts with each healthcare facility, carry out company searches and attend meetings with NHIF management, the county executives of health and partners.

In addition, the firm agreed to print four copies of each contract, bind the contracts and oversee the stamping of contracts at the registry.