NHIF warns against paying premiums to fraudsters

The National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF) has cautioned the public to be wary of some individuals and groups purporting to collect premiums on its behalf.

In a statement Wednesday, NHIF said it was illegal for any unauthorized person or group to purport to collect money on behalf of the Fund.

The unauthorized groups, mostly operating in Nyeri and Murang’a counties are said to be defrauding unsuspecting members of the public.

The organisation are Muungano Mwema Enterprise a.k.a John Macharia Gichoho (JOMAGI) in the Karatina, MukuruIni, Kieni, and Othaya in Nyeri County; Josmah Commercial Agencies in Kieni, Nyeri County and Lee Factor Enterprises Services in Muranga and Kangema.

“The groups have been reported to the Police and are under investigations with intent to prosecute. The list is not conclusive as there may be others not known to the Fund,”

NHIF said it had not appointed any groups or individuals to collect money on its behalf, and asked members of the public to report such individuals or groups purporting to be NHIF agents to the police or the nearest NHIF office.

The statement advised the public to deal with NHIF directly through the various NHIF offices country wide in all counties and through the Huduma Centres.

Monthly payments of Kshs.500 by self-employed people should ONLY be made through Mpesa, Paybill number 200222, then entering one’s ID number as the account number, or through the National Bank, Kenya Commercial Bank, Equity Bank and Cooperative Bank.

A person can also confirm their payment status via SMS by sending their ID number to 21101. Simply compose a text message with letters ID, followed by space then your ID number then send to 21101.