Police officers finally set to get medical cover

By Cyrus Ombati

Nairobi, Kenya: About 40,000 police officers will get comprehensive medical and life insurance cover instead of the current risk allowance with effect from July 2014.

Inspector-General David Kimaiyo said the Government had already approved the proposal and disclosed that negotiations for increased pay with the Salaries and Remuneration Commission were at an advanced stage.

“The delay of the medical insurance cover is due to finalisation of modalities by the Government for the procurement of a service provider,” said Kimaiyo.

A national task force on police reforms in 2009 recommended that procurement of life insurance cover for Kenya Police and Administration Police should be fast-tracked and implemented as early as January 2010.

The task force chaired by Justice (Rtd) Philip Ransley recommended introduction of the comprehensive medical insurance cover to take care of the health of the police officers on account of their high-risk exposure.

In December 2009, authorities reported 81 police officers had died while on duty.

The cover will replace the risk allowance that police officers have been complaining is inadequate.

The risk allowance for officers was recently increased to between Sh9,000 and Sh15,000 depending on their ranks.

The 2009 task force report showed the Government then paid a monthly risk allowance of Sh5,000 to every police officer.

Kimaiyo visited the offices of the SRC on Thursday last week and held lengthy discussions with the body’s officials.

“They have pursued the salary increment issue with SRC and it awaits the finalisation of the general salary survey in the wider public service,” revealed a source.

It is not clear when the increment will be effected but sources say SRC has been demanding clarifications from the police authorities and National Police Service Commission on the proposed salary increments.

Kimaiyo also met senior officers of the Administration Police on Friday and told them about the proposed pay increment. “I met senior APs and assured them of their welfare such as salaries, allowances, housing, medical insurance cover, discipline, among other issues,” he said.