Police, prison warders get better medical cover

Police officers and prison warders will start enjoying enhanced medical insurance cover from January following a deal signed between the Ministry of Interior and the National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF).

The deal was signed by Interior and Citizen Services Principal Secretary Karanja Kibicho and his Correctional Services counterpart Zainab Hussein on Tuesday.

“We’ve had challenges in providing our officers with these services, and that is why we decided to engage NHIF to protect them just like the other civil servants,” Kibicho said.

He said public procurement processes were adhered to in securing the deal.

This was a culmination of lengthy deliberations among key stakeholders, who settled on the inter-government contracting model with a view to addressing the escalating claims of unpaid life insurance and annuity benefits to service members or their designated beneficiaries.

Kibicho said the move is part of the government’s efforts to institutionalise a welfare and protection programme for the 131,816 officers who have to contend with life-changing situations in the course of duty.

The PS said the ultimate goal is to harmonise insurance policy benefits for officers and civil servants, and tailor them to address the vulnerabilities of the families of those who die in the line of duty.

NHIF will also offer improved work injury benefits, as the government seeks to implement these gains at a policy level and in line with relevant legislation.

Inspector General of Police Hillary Mutyambai and Prisons Commissioner General Wycliffe Ogallo welcomed the move to boost the protection offered to their officers.