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Bernard Gitau @benagitau

The Kenya County Government Workers Union (KCGWU) has expressed concern over non-renewal of National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) cover for over 103,000 employees.

 The union’s general secretary Roba Duba has written to the Treasury Cabinet Secretary Ukur Yatani over the issue, saying it is putting counties’ workers and the general population at risk, especially during the Covid-19 era.

 “It has been brought to our attention that NHIF has not been renewing medical covers for county governments citing restrictions from Insurance Regulatory Authority (IRA),” said Duba.

The official said the NHIF claims IRA restricted it not to enter into any new arrangements to offer health insurance benefits.

 Duba added that NHIF covers for workers in at least 28 counties were due and non-renewal would be a tragedy.  

On IRA restrictions to NHIF, he said the National Treasury issued an advisory exempting civil servants from the provisions of the Insurance Act. 

“But the National Treasury gazette notice failed to explicitly mention county governments like it did to civil servants.

This has led to confusion hence county employees are not covered by NHIF,” said Duba.