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Details: East Africa; 28 January 2023; 614

The National Hospital and Insurance Fund (NHIF) has withdrawn medical services payment for Nairobi Metropolitan Services staff (NMS).

The National Insurer withdrew the services due to Sh1.2 billion pending bills accrued over the last two financial years.

In a letter signed by Principal Secretary for Public Service and Gender Amos Gathecha, the medical services for the former NMS staff will be withdrawn until the bill is settled.

“In addition, NHIF has notified the State Department for Public Service of the decision to suspend the access to the scheme benefits with effect from Monday 23rd January, 2023,” the letter stated.

Nairobi County was required to settle the bill for the financial year 2021/2022 and 2022/2023 by December 2022.

The Johnson Sakaja-led administration was supposed to channel the funds to the State Department for Public Service for onward transmission to NHIF.

“It is noted that the said premium for the two (2) financial years ie. 2021/2022 and2022/2023 have not been paid to date, yet the staff of the former NMS have continued to access the scheme benefits,” the letter read.

“The purpose of this letter therefore, is to bring to your attention the NHIF notice of suspension of the cover for your necessary action,” it added.

Nairobi Metropolitan Services (NMS) September 30,2022 officially handed over the transferred functions back to the Nairobi County Government.

On his part, Governor Johnson Sakaja promised to retain all staff that worked under NMS.

“There is no former NMS staff or former county gov’t staff, you are all staff of the Nairobi County government and you will work together as equals. We will have space for everybody,” he said. By Irene Mwangi, Capital News