Ex-NHIF workers in limbo as SHA moves to advertise positions

Social Health Authority CEO Mercy Mwangangi addresses the Press, on June 3, 2025. [Edward Kiplimo, Standard] At least 225 former National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) employees are stranded as they wait for deployment by the Public Service Commission (PSC). This is unfolding as the Social Health Authority (SHA) is expected to make an external advertisement for the positions today, insiders say. The employees, who have been serving at SHA since its establishment in November last year were issued with deployment letters to the PSC. In total, 247 deployment letters were issued by the SHA Chief Executive Officer Mercy Mwangangi on June 9. Of those, 225 employees are still at home awaiting placement by the PSC, while continuing to receive salaries. An insider who requested anonymity said the employees received the June salary, and are expecting July pay, though payslips are not yet out. "We have been at home since June 10, 2025, when we were issued with letters to PSC. We can do nothing because we have not been deployed, or allocated work to do," said an employee. The employee added: "Only 22, out of 247 employees are at work. We are not at work because PSC has not yet deployed us elsewhere. So we are waiting for communication." After being issued with the letters, the employees were directed to report to PSC for deployment. However, PSC asked them to wait, as there were no ready positions. Of the 247 who received deployment letters to PSC, 22 were absorbed by PSC, and are currently working at the Ministry Of Information, Communications and Telecommunication (ICT) and The National Treasury and Economic Planning. The 225, according to sources, were forced to pick deployment letters, after they failed to apply for jobs at SHA that were advertised internally. "Employees who are at home did not apply for SHA jobs. Some of us wanted to exit, but instead, we were sent to PSC," said an insider. Some 10 employees, who were deployed to ICT and Treasury, appealed personally to Dr Mwangangi, citing low payment. The employees according to their deployment letters were expected to report to work on July 28, 2025. "Individuals wrote letters to the CEO, at a personal level, but they are yet to receive a response," said a source. On Tuesday last week, Dr Mwangangi accompanied by Health Cabinet Secretary Adan Duale held a meeting with employees at the establishment, before proceeding to issue a presser. In the meeting, Dr Mwangangi told the employees that the 247 who received letters will retain their current perks. Duale assured the employees that none will lose their job. Last week, Employment and Labour Relations Court ordered that all staff at defunct NHIF who will not be absorbed by SHA and who will opt for deployment in the wider public service will retain their prevailing NHIF last salary, personal to self until they exit the public service through normal retirement, resignation or any other lawful means. Further, any letters already communicated to staff of defunct NHIF who have already been deployed within the wider public service be varied to reflect the retention of salary personal to self. "The issue whether the staff of NHIF competitively recruited for absorption into service of SHA should retain their NHIF salaries personal to self-consequential to recruitment for appointment by SHA be submitted upon for determination by the court," read the court order. Even with court orders and Duale's remarks over the issue, letters of deployment issued to 247 employees are yet to be recalled. But the majority of ex-NHIF employees, according to insiders might not take the jobs, because of salary cuts. "Payment is likely to be slightly lower. Most people might opt to exit," said an employee. SHA has an establishment of 815 employees, against 1,732 who served under defunct NHIF. Immediately NHIF was repealed by SHA on November 24 last year, all NHIF employees were deployed to SHA. According to employment structures at SHA, the staff were to undergo suitability assessment. The second option for the employees was to take an early retirement package. The third option was to be absorbed in the public service. The court is expected to make a ruling on whether staff remaining at SHA will earn the same salary with what was offered under NHIF as well as give a way forward on exit package, for employees expected to leave.

Ex-NHIF workers in limbo as SHA moves to advertise positions

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