Senate Security Committee Demands Swift Compensation for Injured Police Officers
The Senate Committee on National Security, Defence and Foreign Relations convened a crucial session today to address growing concerns over delays in compensating police officers injured in the line of duty. Lawmakers grilled officials over a backlog of unresolved claims, with many officers still waiting for compensation despite having fulfilled all necessary requirements.
At the center of the heated discussions was a petition highlighting the plight of hundreds of officers from the Kenya Police Service, Administration Police, and the Directorate of Criminal Investigations who have not been compensated. Committee members revealed that out of 1,756 injury claims submitted to the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) in the past two years, a staggering 819 remain unresolved.
Attendees included key stakeholders such as representatives from the National Police Service Commission (NPSC), the Directorate of Occupational Safety and Health Services (DOSHS), the Social Health Authority (SHA), and the Insurance Regulatory Authority (IRA).
Mr. Eliud Kinuthia, Chair of the NPSC, accused SHA of violating contractual obligations under the Work Injury Benefits Act (WIBA) by failing to resolve claims within the mandated 90-day period. “SHA’s continued non-compliance has left many officers in financial distress,” Kinuthia said, calling for accountability. Under Section 26(4) of WIBA, insurers are legally bound to settle claims promptly, but SHA’s delays have exacerbated the hardships faced by injured officers.
The session also revealed significant tension between agencies, with officials from DOSHS condemning SHA’s practice of requiring secondary medical assessments before releasing compensation. DOSHS argued that this additional step is both unlawful and a key factor in the prolonged delays, leaving injured officers without necessary support.
Further complicating the situation, the IRA raised concerns over a 2000 Gazette Notice that exempted NHIF from IRA oversight, which has led to questions about the accountability and transparency of NHIF’s handling of injury claims. As NHIF plays a central role in processing claims, its exemption from regulation has fueled concerns regarding proper oversight.
Senate Committee Chair, Senator William Cheptumo (Baringo), expressed his frustration with the systemic inefficiencies, condemning the unnecessary bottlenecks in the compensation process. “We are committed to engaging all relevant stakeholders to expedite the compensation process and to seek a long-term solution,” Cheptumo said.
The session was attended by other committee members, including Senators Fatuma Dullo (Isiolo), Seki Lenku (Kajiado), Julius Murgor (West Pokot), Tom Ojienda, SC (Kisumu), Joseph Githuku (Lamu), and Abdul Haji (Garissa).
The Committee’s call for swift resolution underscores the urgent need for reforms in the compensation system for injured police officers, ensuring that those who risk their lives in service of the nation receive the support they are legally entitled to.
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