Employees of the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) which transitioned to the Social Health Authority (SHA) have raised concerns about their future working with SHA as NHIF has completely assumed its operations.
In an interview with Citizen TV, an employee of NHIF who sought anonymity said that they are uncertain about their future.
“As NHIF staff, we have a lot of anxiety. We have a lot of fear of the staff transition,” the employee said.
The employee added that the Government said it would redeploy some of them to the public service, to other government agencies and promised to process their retirement dues.
However, the employee revealed that nothing has been communicated so far to them after the NHIF-SHA transition, leaving them with uncertainty.
NHIF workers in distress as NHIF fully transitions to SHA
“We are lost because there is failure of the board to follow the act and therefore, we are requesting this board to be dissolved because they are incompetent.
They have not been able to ensure that before the transition expires that all staff should have known where they are supposed to be,” the employee revealed.
The employee’s statement comes amid assurances by President William Ruto that no staff of the NHIF’S contact will be terminated as the it transitioned to SHA.
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Speaking during the Mashujaa Day celebrations, Ruto said the employees will be managed under the new Act.
“I’m aware that during this transition period, the employees of the former NHIF will be managed in accordance with the SHA Act of 2023,” he said.
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He further pledged that all the NHIF employees will be absorbed under SHA, and none will be fired.
Ruto assures no employee will be fired as the authority transitions to SHA
“I want to assure all the former employees and those now serving under our new outfit that no one will lose their jobs,” Ruto said.
His sentiments were echoed by head of Public Service Felix Koskei who stated on October 31 who said that NHIF employees will be transitioned to SHA or absorbed into other government departments.
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Koskei emphasized that the transition process will be fair, and that employees who do not transition to SHA will be redeployed to other public sector roles.
“The Public Service Commission (PSC) is overseeing the transition and will communicate individually with NHIF staff regarding their new roles,” Koskei emphasized.
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