Police Officers Handed Reprieve After Gov’t Ordered To Hasten Compensation
Over 400 policemen who have been denied their rightful benefits since 2021 are looking forward to 2025 after the Senate issued new orders in their favor.
This follows the Senate Committee on National Security, Defense, and Foreign Relations’ directive on Thursday, December 5, to settle all compensation claims for police personnel injured in the line of duty.
Chaired by Vice Chairperson Senator Karen Nyamu, the Committee directed that all hurdles to compensation be removed.
In addition, a detailed report must be submitted to them by mid-January 2025 to permit compensation.
“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,” Vice Chair Karen Nyamu directed.
The Committee held a meeting with officials from the National Police Service Commission, the Directorate of Occupational Safety and Health Services (DOSH), the Social Health Authority (SHA), and insurance companies to discuss the reason for the compensation delay.
“The discussions focused on the basis for claim rejections, second medical assessments, and the interpretation of contracts relating to the officers’ compensation,” the statement by the committee revealed.
National Police Service Commission wants the National Hospital Insurance Fund, now Social Health Authority (SHA) to fast-track the settlement of all outstanding claims of police officers injured while on duty. pic.twitter.com/r3FIheX2eU
— National Police Service Commission – Kenya (@NPSC_KE) November 14, 2024
A crucial concern raised at the conference was the validity of asking co-insurers to perform second medical exams despite past DOSH evaluations. It became clear during the session that this approach violated existing legislation.
Senator George Mbugua, who was present at the meeting, chastised the SHA representatives for providing half-baked solutions.
“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,” remarked Senator Mbugua, expressing frustration with the authority’s representatives.
Kajiado Senator Seki Lenku, for his part, criticized the insurers’ arbitrary methods, claiming they caused undue pain to police officers.
“Why should these police officers be subjected to a second medical assessment? And why are there issues when the contract clearly states that police officers are on duty throughout?” the Senator questioned.
The Senate instruction comes after weeks of deliberation with numerous parties to resolve grievances highlighted in the officers’ July 2024 appeal to the Senate via Busia Senator Okiya Omtatah.
ALSO READ:
- Rogue Motorist Harasses Female Police Officer, NPS Issues Statement
- KRA Clarifies Tracking Kenyans’ Phone Transactions, Lists Targets
- Over 50 Police Recruits Discontinued From Training At Kiganjo
- REVEALED: Countries Exploiting Kenyans With Fraudulent Recruitment [LIST]
- NTSA Issues New Data On Driving Licenses, Urges Applicants To Track Progress
The petition expressed concerns about the delays and rejections of claims filed by affected officers.
In November, the National Police Service Commission (NPSC) disclosed that a total of Ksh709 million was paid to police officers in compensation for injuries received in the line of duty between 2021 and 2022.
National Police Service Commission Appeals, Policy and Legal Affairs (APLA) Committee Chaired by Commissioner Edwin Cheluget has embarked on quasi- court sessions to review appeals filed by former police officers dismissed for various disciplinary violations. pic.twitter.com/nzutEwGH1M
— National Police Service Commission – Kenya (@NPSC_KE) November 5, 2024
This sum was divided among 937 successful claims out of 1,756 cases presented by officers within the service.
In a report tabled before the Senate, CEO Peter Leley explained the status of numerous claims that remained unresolved, including the 422 claims worth Ksh444 million which is still under internal review by SHA.
Police Officers Handed Reprieve After Gov’t Ordered To Hasten Compensation
