Senators want the Social Health Authority (SHA) to absorb the employees of the defunct National Hospital and Insurance Fund (NHIF). 

However, the Senators are calling for a thorough vetting of staff to weed out unscrupulous employees of the defunct entity who used to approve several fictitious claims. 

Senate Majority Leader Aaron Cheruiyot (Kericho) said that about 95 per cent to 99 per cent of former NHIF staff are diligent Kenyans, who went about their duties, worked and served the country well and need to be considered. 

“In NHIF, we had staff who were approving the amputation of a human being four to six times, yet we know a human being has only two legs. Do you want us to take those ones to SHA as well? There must be a vetting process. The process needs to be done in a way that no Kenyan ends up suffering unfairly,” Cheruiyot opined. 

Fictitious claims 

He went on: “They will establish that, if there is an employee who was found to be involved in the business of handling fictitious claims and brought down NHIF, then we need not transition such employees into SHA.” 

Cheruiyot’s sentiments follow a statement sought by Senate Majority Whip Dr Boni Khalwale (Kakamega) on the floor of the House, who wants the Senate Health Committee to address the total number of staff that SHA plans to recruit to fill its approved staff establishment.

Khalwale also wants the committee to establish whether the employees to be recruited will be entirely sourced from the staff of the defunct NHIF and the approved exit package for those who will not be appointed by SHA and opt to retire from the public service. 

Redeployment plans 

“The committee should give details of the redeployment plan for the staff who will not be appointed by SHA and who wish to be redeployed within the public service. The details should include the capacities or positions they will hold and whether they will retain the current terms of employment,” Khalwale said in a statement. 

Khalwale’s statement follows a letter by the Public Service Commission (PSC), dated November 2024 and addressed to all individual former NHIF staff, which required them to acknowledge receipt immediately after they received the letters.  

The staff were also asked whether they accept or reject the terms of their temporary deployment, a move that caused anxiety, panic and confusion among members of staff. 

However, the six-month contract period outlined in the said letter under reference came to an end in May. 

While contributing to the statement, Cheruiyot further charged that although SHA has had challenges in the past, it is working for millions of Kenyans. 

“I do not know why people get offended or worked up when we say SHA is working. What else are we supposed to say? There is an addiction to bad news in the country. Leaders must begin to live and know that they are dealers in hope,” Cheruiyot said.