NHIF Staff Assured of Their Jobs at SHA

Head of Public Service Felix Koskei has provided reassurance to employees of the now-defunct National Hospital and Insurance Fund (NHIF) that their jobs are secure.

This assurance comes in light of the ongoing changes within the fund.

Following a town hall meeting with NHIF staff, Koskei emphasized that the appraisal process will be conducted transparently, and those who do not move to the Social Health Authority (SHA) will be accommodated in other government positions.

“The entire staff of SHA has not been filled and the people who will be given priority and who deserve first priority are the NHIF staff. That is the assurance we have given them,” said Koskei.

The reassurance is provided at a moment when numerous NHIF employees are apprehensive about potential job losses.

The predominant roles within the SHA are significantly digital, leading to unease among certain staff members.

Nevertheless, Koskei stated that performance evaluations will take place, and those who do not move to SHA will be integrated into alternative government roles.

“Those who perhaps don’t manage to be onboarded will be deployed to other government institutions, ministries, parastatals and other agencies, so that at the end of the day the 100% ration retention will be assured,” he said.

Koskei reassured the citizens of Kenya that access to health services will remain guaranteed, particularly in hospitals and health facilities affiliated with the Social Health Authority.

He did, however, point out that some facilities may provide services that are not prioritized under the Universal Health Coverage framework, and that certain facilities have yet to be contracted by the SHA.

To date, more than 13 million Kenyans have made the switch from the National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF) to the SHA, with many more anticipated to follow suit in the upcoming weeks as the authority commemorates one month since the commencement of the registration process.

While the transition from NHIF to SHA has introduced additional expenses for employed individuals, the government is committed to ensuring that all Kenyans have access to health services through the Universal Health Care Programme.