The occasional helicopter rides by Fredrick Sagwe, 39, are said to have caught the attention of his neighbours who marvelled at his lifestyle.

High Life

According to the Nation, Sagwe owns eight townhouses in the suburban Green Park estate in Athi River and drives top of the range vehicles although his salary at NHIF was Ksh150,000.

In 2014, he was picked to join NHIF’s tender evaluation committee. In Kenyan parastatals, tender evaluation committees usually comprise people from different departments to capture all concerns by users.

The State prosecutor told the court that Sagwe and his 19 co-accused had committed a crime “worse than murder” by stealing money meant for treatment of patients.

He grew up in Umoja Estate in Nairobi’s Eastlands and was raised by a relative. He attended Nakuru High School and upon graduation from USIU-Africa, Nairobi, joined NHIF in 2007.

NHIF Scandal

The 39-year-old is now the face of the NHIF scandal, with his vast estate among items targeted by the Asset Recovery Agency, which confiscates properties accumulated through proceeds of crime.

On 23 November, detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations arrested National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF) Chief Executive Officer Geoffrey Mwangi alongside the Head of Finance, Mr Wilbert Kurgat.

The two were summoned to DCI headquarters located along Kiambu road and were arrested shortly afterwards.

Reports indicate that the two allegedly used their positions to try to block investigations into claims of corruption at NHIF.