CS Mbadi Backs Public Officers' Medical Fund Amid Scrutiny

Mbadi
Treasury CS John Mbadi reading the 2025/2026 Budget before the National Assembly on June 12, 2025.
Photo
National Assembly

Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi has defended the planned Public Officers Medical Fund, which is set to provide additional health insurance for around 140,000 public servants.

Appearing before the National Assembly’s Committee on Delegated Legislation on Wednesday, 16 July, the CS was asked to explain why this was necessary given that all civil servants are already beneficiaries of the Social Health Authority (SHA) medical insurance scheme.

However, the CS clarified that the proposed scheme is not a duplication of the SHA coverage but a complementary initiative.

Instead, it is set to replace the current Comprehensive Medical Scheme for civil servants and disciplined forces, which has been in place since 2012.

SHA Building
The Social Health Authority(SHA) building, October 1, 2024.
Photo
Social Health Authority

“The provision of the enhanced medical benefits package for public officers is part of the Collective Bargaining Agreements between the government and the various public service officers' unions,” the CS said.

The committee chair, Ainabkopi MP Samuel Chepkonga, and his vice chair, Gichugu MP, Githinji Gichimu, had pressed the CS for justification of the new scheme.

In November 2024, the Treasury published the draft Public Finance Management (Public Officers Medical Scheme Fund) Regulations, 2024 which proposes a new health fund designed to support the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF) benefits available to all civil servants.

“For civil servants to continue receiving this benefit from the Scheme as part of their remunerations, a Fund is proposed to enable civil servants first to receive the comprehensive range of quality health services from the Social Health Authority and, once this is exhausted, proceed with the limits provided for under the comprehensive medical insurance scheme for civil servants and disciplined services (renamed Public Officers Medical Scheme),” a section of the draft reads.

Following the migration from the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) to SHA in October, the previous scheme that catered to the civil servants was discontinued, leaving public officials to transition to a standardised level of care. 

Under the new scheme by SHA, all Kenyans, regardless of their contribution amount, have access to integrated preventive, promotive, curative, rehabilitative, and palliative health services at levels 4, 5, and 6 health facilities.

The discontinued Comprehensive Medical Scheme enabled all civil servants and disciplined service members to enjoy a comprehensive Medical Insurance Scheme that covered the principal member and up to 6 dependents.

The benefits package included outpatient and inpatient services, specialised services, dental and optical care, annual medical checkups for the principal member and spouse, road ambulance services, emergency air rescue, overseas treatment, group life, and last expense cover.

SHA, NHIF collage
A collage of the NHIF offices and the Social Health Authority logo. PHOTO/ Business Daily
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