Gov't Clears Air on Job Losses of NHIF Employees Following Shift to Social Health Authority

Head of Public Service Felix Koskei

Head of Public Service Felix Koskei has assured National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) employees that their jobs would be secure as the government transitions to the newly created Social Health Authority (SHA).

In a statement on Wednesday, October 30, Koskei clarified that the SHA, which has been established to replace NHIF, has so far only hired an acting Chief Executive Officer and has yet to recruit additional staff.

“There has been tension by the staff that has been working with NHIF,” Koskei acknowledged, adding, “but we have given them very clear assurance that no one will lose their job. As SHA, we only have one staff in the name of [an] acting CEO. The entire staff complement of SHA has not been filled, and the people who will be given first priority are NHIF staff.”

Koskei outlined that NHIF employees who do not transition to SHA roles will have opportunities to join other government agencies.

The Social Health Authority (SHA) Headquarters

He emphasized that the government’s commitment is to secure the jobs of all NHIF staff.

“Those who perhaps don’t manage to be on-boarded will be deployed to other government institutions, ministries, parastatals, and other agencies so that, at the end of the day, the 100% ratio retention will be assured,” Koskei noted.

The SHA was established to consolidate the management of three major healthcare funds in Kenya, following the enactment of four healthcare bills intended to streamline healthcare financing.

Under SHA’s jurisdiction will be the Primary Healthcare Fund (PHF), the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF), and the Emergency, Chronic, and Critical Illness Fund (ECCIL).

These funds are structured to ensure a more comprehensive, tiered approach to healthcare funding in the country.