NAIROBI, Kenya – More than 100,000 police officers may have been denied essential insurance benefits, despite the government spending over Sh6 billion on a coverage plan meant to protect officers and their families.
The alarming revelation comes from a report by Auditor General Nancy Gathungu, who highlighted significant lapses in the management of the National Police Service’s (NPS) insurance contract.
The audit, which covers the 2023/24 financial year, identifies severe shortcomings in the oversight and monitoring of the contract, raising concerns that many officers and their families remain unprotected, potentially leaving them vulnerable in times of need.
The report, now before Parliament, faults NPS accounting officer Bernice Lemedeket for failing to properly manage the insurance agreement.
“The management did not adequately monitor the contract to ensure that the contract terms were complied with and ensure value for money and benefit to the members and their beneficiaries,” Gathungu’s report states.
In 2023, the NPS contracted the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) to provide insurance coverage for uniformed officers.
NHIF then partnered with a consortium of insurance companies to deliver a package that included Group Life Insurance, Work Injury Benefit Act (WIBA) coverage, and Group Personal Accident (GPA) insurance, costing an annual premium of Sh5.08 billion.
The coverage was extended until March 2024 at an additional Sh1.3 billion.
Despite the substantial funds allocated for the insurance cover, the audit uncovered alarming irregularities in the settlement of claims.
The report indicates that 262 GPA claims had not been paid, despite the insurer being notified.
Additionally, 21 group life insurance claims, valued at Sh43.5 million, remained unsettled, violating the terms of the contract that stipulate claims should be paid within five days of notification.
The audit further found that the National Police Service had failed to address claims related to workplace injuries.
Of the 509 WIBA claims filed, none had been compensated, nor had any claims related to two WIBA-related deaths.
The contract mandates that compensation for temporary disability should be made in periodic payments equivalent to the officer’s salary, continuing as long as the disablement persists, but not exceeding 12 months.
Additionally, compensation for deaths or permanent disability resulting from work accidents should be equivalent to eight years of the officer’s gross salary.
These findings, Gathungu noted, point to a serious breach of contract and a lack of effective oversight.
The audit paints a troubling picture of an insurance system designed to protect officers who risk their lives daily but has failed to deliver on its promises.
The revelation is a significant blow to the National Police Service, which has faced numerous challenges related to the welfare of its officers.
It raises concerns over the proper allocation of resources and the accountability of the entities involved in administering the policy.
The failure to honor these claims highlights the vulnerability of officers who, despite their dangerous and vital roles in ensuring public safety, may have been left without the necessary support in the event of injury, disability, or death.
With millions of shillings spent on their behalf, the question now remains whether the funds have been effectively utilized to meet the needs of those who protect the nation.
