SHA accused of ignoring law in hiring as NHIF workers left out

The Social Health Authority (SHA) is facing mounting pressure from the Kenya Union of Commercial Food and Allied Workers (KUCFAW), which has accused it of deliberately locking out former National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF) employees from new job opportunities under the Social Health Insurance framework.

According to KUCFAW general secretary Andrew Kinyua, the recruitment process currently being conducted by SHA violates the Social Health Insurance Act (SHIF) 2023, which clearly provides that NHIF workers should be given first consideration in the staffing of the new agency.

He said the ongoing appointments show a pattern of exclusion, despite clear legal and presidential assurances that the transition from NHIF to SHA would protect existing workers.

“There seems to be a well-planned effort to remove NHIF employees from the system. This is already visible in the appointment of the CEO and senior management, where hardly any former staff have been absorbed,” said Kinyua.

The union boss noted that over 80 per cent of NHIF employees risk losing their jobs, warning that such action amounts to disregard of the law and could destabilise the country’s social health system.

KUCFAW said it maintains a recognition agreement with SHA and has given the authority’s board 72 hours to respond to its grievances or face legal proceedings.

“We are contemplating moving to court to seek to declare the whole process a violation of the law in the event we don't receive a favourable response from the board within 72 hours,” Kinyua warned.

He also cautioned that overlooking the NHIF workforce would disrupt the delivery of health insurance services, arguing that their expertise is crucial to sustaining the country’s Universal Health Coverage (UHC) rollout.

“A majority of NHIF employees possess the skills, experience and understanding of social health protection systems. Replacing them with new recruits who will require retraining risks undermining the efficiency and continuity of health insurance services,” he added.

The Social Health Insurance Act, 2023, repealed the NHIF Act and introduced the Social Health Authority, alongside three new funds - the Primary Healthcare Fund, the Social Health Insurance Fund, and the Emergency, Chronic and Critical Illness Fund.

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• UHC
• SHA
• NHIF audit
• Social Health Insurance Act
• KUCFAW
• NHIF staff
• SHA accused of ignoring law in hiring as NHIF workers left out
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