Narok Senator Ledama Olekina has urged the government to treat civil servants with dignity after retirement amid cases of neglect from the state.

Taking to his official X account on Tuesday, September 30, 2025, the legislator argued that state officials are the heartbeat of the country, but their sacrifice in public service is always overlooked in their retirement years.

“Our civil servants are the heartbeats of our nation — they serve with sacrifice, yet we fail them in retirement. We, as leaders, must honour their years of dedication with dignity. To neglect them is to neglect the very soul of our country,” Olekina said.

Olekina’s call for the civil servants’ recognition comes weeks after the government released Ksh4 billion to the Social Health Authority (SHA) to provide medical cover for its workers. This came after weeks of uncertainty, with many public officers worried about access to healthcare due to delayed funds.

SHA service for civil servants

Public Service Cabinet Secretary Geoffrey Ruku confirmed the disbursement on Sunday, September 8, 2025, while attending a church service at the ACK Cathedral of St Peter’s, Siakago, in Embu County.

“The government has released Ksh4 billion to the Social Health Authority to cater for public servants’ medical cover,” Ruku said.

Meanwhile, Members of Parliament are also pushing for the implementation of Universal Health Coverage (UHC) in Kenya and making it mandatory for public officers to seek treatment in public hospitals.

The motion, tabled by Nominated MP Sabina Wanjiru Chege, directs the Ministry of Health to fully implement the Kenya Universal Health Coverage Policy 2020–2030 and introduce a new framework requiring all civil servants, public officers, and state officers to exclusively use public healthcare facilities.

“The Government is committed to accelerating the attainment of Universal Health Coverage (UHC) to ensure all Kenyans have access to essential quality health services. This must start with public servants themselves,” Chege said. Addressing MPs on Wednesday, July 23, 2025, she argued that while the government already provides comprehensive medical cover to public officers, the majority opt for private healthcare, diverting funds that could strengthen public institutions.