The Social Health Authority (SHA) has announced that police officers injured while performing their duties have collectively received Ksh.1.2 billion in compensation over recent years.
SHA Chief Executive Officer Dr. Mercy Mwangangi revealed the figures on Thursday while appearing before the Senate Committee on National Security, Defence and Foreign Relations.
Dr. Mwangangi told senators that the Authority successfully processed and paid 1,567 claims submitted by officers who sustained injuries in the line of duty.
Dr. Mwangangi told senators that the Authority successfully processed and paid 1,567 claims submitted by officers who sustained injuries in the line of duty.
She emphasized that the agency remains committed to ensuring timely and fair settlement of all legitimate claims lodged by affected officers across the country.
However, she also noted that not all submitted claims were successful. According to her presentation, 432 claims were rejected due to various reasons including inconsistencies, ineligibility, or failure to meet required standards.
However, she also noted that not all submitted claims were successful. According to her presentation, 432 claims were rejected due to various reasons including inconsistencies, ineligibility, or failure to meet required standards.
Additionally, 129 claims are currently under dispute, while another 95 cases remain pending because the officers involved had not provided complete documentation.
The SHA chief further explained that 155 compensation claims are in the payment pipeline, awaiting final authorization, and 41 more are undergoing additional scrutiny before a determination is made.
Despite the detailed breakdown, the Senate Committee expressed concern over discrepancies between SHA’s data and records held by the National Police Service Commission (NPSC) and the Directorate of Occupational Safety and Health Services (DOSH).
The SHA chief further explained that 155 compensation claims are in the payment pipeline, awaiting final authorization, and 41 more are undergoing additional scrutiny before a determination is made.
Despite the detailed breakdown, the Senate Committee expressed concern over discrepancies between SHA’s data and records held by the National Police Service Commission (NPSC) and the Directorate of Occupational Safety and Health Services (DOSH).
The committee observed that each institution appeared to have conflicting figures, raising questions over accuracy and coordination among the three agencies.
In response, Committee Chair Senator Lelegwe Ltumbesi directed SHA, NPSC, and DOSH to harmonize their record-keeping processes and produce a unified and verifiable list of all compensation claims filed by police officers.
“As a committee, we are instructing these three bodies to sit together and reconcile their figures so that we have consistent information regarding every claim,” Senator Ltumbesi stated.
The senators also raised concerns about claims being dismissed on grounds that an officer was allegedly off-duty at the time of the incident.
In response, Committee Chair Senator Lelegwe Ltumbesi directed SHA, NPSC, and DOSH to harmonize their record-keeping processes and produce a unified and verifiable list of all compensation claims filed by police officers.
“As a committee, we are instructing these three bodies to sit together and reconcile their figures so that we have consistent information regarding every claim,” Senator Ltumbesi stated.
The senators also raised concerns about claims being dismissed on grounds that an officer was allegedly off-duty at the time of the incident.
They reiterated that by law and operational expectation, police officers are considered to be on duty 24 hours a day, and no claim should be denied under such reasoning.
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