The Senate Committee on National Security, Defence and Foreign Relations convened a high-stakes session on Thursday to address mounting concerns over significant delays in compensating police officers injured in the line of duty. With a backlog of unresolved claims, lawmakers probed systemic failures, confronting officials over prolonged waits for officers who, despite fulfilling all requirements, remain uncompensated.

At the heart of the discussions was a petition highlighting how hundreds of officers—spanning the Kenya Police Service, Administration Police and the Directorate of Criminal Investigations— have yet to receive compensation. Committee members revealed that of 1,756 claims submitted to the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) over the past two years, a staggering 819 cases remain unresolved.

Stakeholders from across the sector attended, including representatives from the National Police Service Commission, the Directorate of Occupational Safety and Health Services, the Social Health Authority (SHA) and the Insurance Regulatory Authority (IRA). 

Mr. Eliud Kinuthia, Chair of the National Police Service Commission, singled out the SHA, accusing it of breaching contractual obligations by failing to settle claims within the 90-day timeframe mandated by the Work Injury Benefits Act (WIBA). Under Section 26(4) of WIBA, insurers are legally required to resolve claims promptly, yet SHA's continued non-compliance has left many officers in prolonged financial hardship.

The hearing also revealed simmering tension between agencies, with officials from the Directorate of Occupational Safety and Health Services condemning SHA’s demand for secondary medical assessments prior to disbursing compensation. The Directorate argued this additional examination step is not only unlawful but also a direct contributor to delays, leaving injured officers stranded without much-needed support.

Further complicating the issue, the Insurance Regulatory Authority pointed out that a 2000 Gazette Notice issued by the Cabinet Secretary for the National Treasury exempted NHIF from IRA regulation, raising concerns about the lack of accountability in NHIF’s handling of injury claims. As NHIF plays a central role in processing claims, its exemption has sparked questions about oversight in a process crucial to police welfare.

The Committee, chaired by Sen. William Cheptumo (Baringo), voiced its frustration at these unnecessary bottlenecks and pledged to engage all stakeholders further to expedite compensation and provide a long-term solution.

Alongside Cheptumo, the session was attended by committee members: Sen. Fatuma Dullo (Isiolo), Sen. Seki Lenku (Kajiado), Sen. Julius Murgor (West Pokot), Sen. Tom Ojienda, SC (Kisumu), Sen. Joseph Githuku (Lamu) and Sen. Abdul Haji (Garissa).