The lawmakers gave the Social Health Authority (SHA) and other institutions involved until the third of week January, 2025 to ensure this is effected.
The decision was made Thursday by the House Committee on National Security, Defence, and Foreign Relations during a meeting with representatives from the National Police Service Commission and the Directorate of Occupational Safety and Health Services (DOSH).
Officials from SHA, and several insurance companies, including Jubilee Allianz, GA Insurance, and UAP Insurance were also present.
“We are giving you up to the third week of January to settle all the claims and appear before this committee with a clear report,” committee vice chairperson Karen Nyamu directed.
It follows a petition filed in July 2024 by officers through Busia Senator Okiyah Omtatah.
A section of officers had raised concerns about delays and in some instances rejection of claims.
Discussions centred on issues such as the legal grounds for rejecting claims, the necessity of second medical assessments, and the interpretation of contractual terms related to compensation.
A major point of contention arose over the practice of requiring additional medical assessments by co-insurers despite prior evaluations by DOSH, a practice the committee deemed unlawful.
Kajiado Senator Seki Lenku criticised the insurer’s arbitrary procedures which he argued had inflicted unnecessary suffering on the officers.
“Why should these police officers be subjected to a second medical assessment?” he posed.
He argued this was happening yet the contract clearly states that police officers are always considered on duty.
Nominated Senator George Mbugua expressed frustration with the responses by SHA officials saying they are to blame for the delays in settling of the claims.
“These officers from SHA do not seem to be competent enough because the responses they are giving are very casual. They are simply telling us nothing,” he said.
The meeting follows a similar one by the National Assembly on November 16 regarding the same matter.
Compensation to the members of the disciplined service is made in line with the Work Injury Benefits Act (WIBA), 2007.
The Act provides for compensation to employees for work-related injuries and diseases contracted in the course of their employment.
The state Department of Interior entered into a deal with the defunct National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF) to provide the group life cover, Work Injury Benefits Act (WIBA) and GPA for the members of the National police service.
Compensation is provided in the form of salary continuation or a lump sum based on the officer’s annual gross salary.
For permanent disability as a result of illness, an officer is paid a one-year basic salary multiplied by the percentage awarded.
In the case of death, illness, or injury as a result of occupation injuries, an officer is entitled to eight years gross salary.
NPSC chairperson Eliud Kinuthia absolved the commission from any blame for the delay in the release of the dues instead pointing an accusing finger at NHIF currently SHA.
He wondered why it had continued to subject the injured officers to a second medical review even after the DOSH had okayed it.
