NAIROBI, Kenya, Mar 22 — Narok Senator Ledama Olekina has called for the termination of a police medical insurance contract awarded to a CIC-led consortium of private insurance firms.
Olekina argues that the move requiring police to co-pay for access to medical facilities is wrong adding that it amounts to “slavery”.
He demanded the reversion of the medical scheme to the National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF).
The Senate Minority Whip further proposed a salary increment for police officers across the country.
“Kenya Police Medical insurance cover must be returned to NHIF with full benefits. Stop this business of CIC and asking the police to co-pay for medical. Their salaries must also be increased. Stop enslaving our police. In fact the Kenya police should be paid a minimum of Sh180,000,” he said.
His statement on the award reviewed by Parliament came just a week after the National Police Service (NPS) confirmed it was working to resolve accessibility hitches.
NPS Spokesperson Dr. Resila Onyango gave the assurance when she talked to Capital FM on March 13.
She was responding to complaints from a section of officers who have claimed that the new medical scheme is limited to a few hospitals, making it challenging for them to access medical care.
The consortium including CIC, Old Mutual and Britam, was awarded the tender to provide medical cover for police officers after the National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF) lost a bid to offer health insurance to police officers.
NHIF, which had provided medical cover to the Police Service for close to eight years, lost the tender to the consortium on December 16, 2022.
Resila said the NPS is well aware of the challenges and is doing whatever it takes to address them.
“Those challenges that the officers are raising, we (NPS) are receiving them very positively as the hierarchy and we are working very closely from the police headquarters with the CIC Consortium to alleviate the challenges of the officers,” she said.
Onyango emphasized that the introduction of the medical cover was part of police reforms aimed at reducing stress and pressure and ensuring that security officers are attended to quickly and in a dignified manner.
She pointed out that the NPS is committed to improving the welfare of police officers across the country.
