Head of Public Service Felix Koskei has assured former National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF) employees that their jobs are secure following the transition to the Social Health Authority (SHA). After a town hall meeting with NHIF employees on Wednesday, Koskei emphasized that staff evaluations will be transparent and that those not moving to SHA will be placed in other government roles.
“The entire SHA staff roster has not yet been filled, and priority will be given to NHIF employees who meet the criteria. We’ve assured them they will be considered first,” Koskei said.
His reassurance comes amid concerns among NHIF staff about potential job losses, especially as SHA roles are largely digital. Koskei explained that any employees not transitioning to SHA would be reassigned to other government departments, ensuring full job retention.
“Those not onboarded with SHA will be deployed to other government institutions, ministries, parastatals, and agencies to guarantee 100% job retention,” he added.
Koskei also reassured Kenyans that healthcare access will continue seamlessly, particularly at facilities under SHA. However, he noted that some facilities may not offer services prioritized by Universal Health Coverage and that certain facilities are yet to be contracted by SHA.
Over 13 million Kenyans have already shifted from NHIF to SHA, with more expected in the coming weeks as SHA marks one month since its registration rollout. The transition, though adding some costs for employed citizens, aims to ensure all Kenyans have access to healthcare under the Universal Health Care Programme.
