Social Health Authority (SHA) Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Mercy Mwangangi has stated that the Authority settled 1,567 claims valued at Ksh.1.2 billion to police officers injured while on duty.

Appearing before the Senate Committee on National Security, Defence and Foreign Relations on Thursday, Mwangangi assured the senators that SHA was committed to ensuring all injured officers received the benefits due to them. 

She added that 432 claims from police officers were declined due to various reasons, while 129 were under dispute. Further, 95 were pending due to incomplete documentation. 

The SHA boss also reported that 155 claims were undergoing payment processing and 41 were under further review. 

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During the Committee hearing, the senators, however, noted that the figures reported by SHA contradicted those from the National Police Service Commission (NPSC) and the Directorate of Occupational Safety and Health Services (DOSH). 

As a result, they directed the three agencies to reconcile their records regarding the compensation claims. 

“As a committee, we are directing the Social Health Authority, National Police Service Commission and Directorate of Occupational Safety and Health Services to have an engagement and submit a list that is concurrent with regards to claims,” stated the session Chair, Senator Lelegwe Ltumbesi.

Further, the Committee appealed to SHA not to dismiss or defer any claim on the basis that an officer was allegedly off-duty at the time of injury, citing that officers are considered to be on duty 24 hours a day. 

They also noted that injured officers must not be subjected to a second medical assessment as DOSH remains the sole body legally mandated to undertake such evaluations. 

The senators vowed not to relent until all affected officers receive their due.