Shame of Sh1.2billion police hospital lying idle as officers grapple with insurance woes
The commissioning of the hospital has been postponed since retired President Uhuru Kenyatta’s time in July 2022 when 67 police officers were posted to work at the facility
A fully equipped Ksh 1.2 billion National Police Service (NPS) Level IV Hospital located along Mbagathi Way in Nairobi is lying idle nearly 10 months after being handed over by the Kenya Defence Forces even as its officers continue to suffer after a consortium of insurance companies suspended services over non-remittance of premiums by the government.
Worse still, senior bureaucrats within government and powerful cartels controlling the medical sector and the lucrative NPS medical cover deals have been accused of frustrating its operationalisation of the multi-billion medical establishment to rake in billions from medical and life cover contracts.
The hospital was constructed under the supervision of the military and handed over to then Interior Cabinet Secretary Prof Kindiki Kithure (now Deputy President) by his the Defence counterpart Aden Duale, who is now at Environment, on May 17, last year.
Auditor General Nancy Gathungu in her 2023/24 financial audit report has expressed concern that despite the completion of the construction of the much-needed facility in the 2022/23 financial year, the hospital, which started recruiting staff, is yet to start operations.
“The construction and equipping of the National Police Service (NPS) Mbagathi Hospital was done under the supervision of the Ministry of Defence at a cost of Sh1,233,628,135,” Gathungu says in her audit report.
“The construction and equipping of the Hospital were completed in the 2022/2023 financial year. Despite the Hospital having been done and the commencement of recruitment of hospital staff, the Hospital was not in operation at the time of the audit in November last year,” she adds.
In her report, Gathungu indicates that Sh833,628,135 is yet to be paid, while an initial amount of Ksh 400 million was paid.
The new revelation comes at a time Gathungu also unearthed anomalies in the Ksh 5 billion insurance cover for the employees of the National Police Service and Kenya Prisons Service (KPS).
In the latest report for the financial year 2023/2024, Gathungu regretted that there were anomalies in the entire contract despite it being extended for a further three months to March 2024 at a premium of Sh1.2 billion.
The cover, which covered officers beginning January 1, 2023, to December 31, 2023, and which catered for 141,961 persons (NPS 109,557 and KPS -32,404) comprised of the Group Life Cover, Work Injury Benefits Act (WIBA) and Group Personal Accident Cover (GPA).
According to the report, a review of insurance records reveals anomalies in various premiums. With regards to Group Life Benefits, the report shows that although the contract provides that upon the death of a member, the member declared next of kin shall be paid a lump sum compensation of five years’ annual basic salary, at the time of audit in the month of November, 2024, the insurer had not paid 21 claims totalling Ksh 43.5 million.
This the report says is contrary to the contract sum terms that state that claims shall be paid within five days after notification and provision of all documents.
On injuries that occurred out of an accident or as a result of illness as provided for under GPA, the contract says that such members shall be entitled to compensation for loss of gross salary up to a maximum period of two years’ subject to the prevailing Human Resources (HR) Policy at the time of injury or illness.
However, the report reveals that insurance records at the time of the audit in November 2024, the insurer had not settled 262 unpaid injury GPA claims despite having been notified.
Further, the report states that although the contract provides that death under WIBA or as a result of occupational accident be compensated at a rate of eight years, the gross salary of the beneficiary records provided for audit revealed the insurer had not settled two death claims.
“ln the circumstances, management did not adequately monitor the contract to ensure that the contract terms are complied with and ensure there is value for money and benefits to members from the contract,” the report states.
When contacted, the National Police Service Spokesperson Muchiri Nyaga said that though they need the hospital to be up and running as soon as possible, a few logistical issues remain a hindrance to its operationalisation.
He says the undertaking of the hospital is complex and should be keenly done.
“We need the hospital like yesterday, but there are logistical issues that make it not to be functional up to now. You know, a hospital is not like any other place because it’s a complex undertaking,” Nyaga explained in an interview with The Informer Media Group.
Muchiri added that even though there is no exact timeline, the hospital will be operational soon.
“There are few areas that need to be completed for us to say that we are operational. We need to confirm the issue of the doctors, medics, and all the other key areas. I’m certain we shall be up and running, though I cannot give a timeline,” Nyaga assures.
“The government and NPS are on course to ensure it will be operationalised soon, and at the right moment, we shall move in. Though the question is how soon we shall move in?” he added.
The commissioning of the hospital has been postponed since retired President Uhuru Kenyatta’s time in July 2022 when 67 police officers were posted to work at the facility.
The hospital has a bed capacity of 150, a parking facility for four ambulances, 20 staff vehicles and 50 vehicles belonging to the public.
It was built to help reduce dependence on private hospitals and is meant to treat National Police officers together with their families.
It is meant to provide specialised treatment, including confidential professional counseling, trauma healing, and psychosocial support.
It is also meant to work closely with the Police Airwing for emergency evacuations and boost evidence gathering in rape and assault cases.
Another hospital whose commission took long to be commissioned is the Border Police Unit camp in Kanyonyo, Kitui County, which was meant to attend to officers injured in operations with militias.
The 130-bed capacity level-four facility was constructed through a welfare fund contributed by police officers from the Administration Police and was commissioned in 2023 by President William Ruto.
Last month, private health insurers, through their administrator, Medical Administrators Kenya Limited (MAKL), announced the suspension of services to hospitals where teachers, police and prisons officers and staff are treated due to unremitted finances the national government.
MAKL is the administrator contracted by MINNET, a consortium of insurance companies responsible for medical services to NPS, Kenya Prison staff and officers, and teachers.
Teachers Service Commission (TSC) boss Nancy Macharia admitted there was a problem, saying they were yet to receive money from the national government.
After the notice by MAKL, Kenya Prisons Senior Assistant Commissioner General Henry Kisingu advised the warders through the prison heads to seek services at the corporate section of the Kenyatta National Hospital and the Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital for those in Eldoret.
Prison warders in job groups A-K were the most affected, as Nairobi West Hospital and Top Hill Hospital in Eldoret announced the suspension of all medical services to the officers.
“It has come to my attention that warders and staff of the Kenya Prison are being turned away by accredited hospitals who have suspended services following a notice from MAKL. They are now advised to seek healthcare services in nearby accredited facilities. Those being referred to Nairobi can seek the same at KNH corporate section while those in Eldoret can have access at the referral hospital,” Kisingu advised.
The woes for police officers and teachers accessing healthcare services worsened even more after the Rural and Urban Private Hospitals (RUPHA) announced that they would no longer provide care under the medical administrator Medical Administrators Kenya Limited, which handles their medical schemes.
RUPHA called on the government to settle the Ksh 30 billion arrears by the defunct NHIF owed to the private hospitals by MAKL.
“Without urgent intervention, police officers will be left without quality healthcare service,” RUPHA Chairman Brian Lishenga stated.
