Mbadi defends proposed medical scheme for 140,000 civil servants
CS says it is intended to replace the current Comprehensive Medical Scheme for civil servants and disciplined forces, which has been in place since 2012
The National Treasury has defended a proposal to introduce a new medical scheme for civil servants separate from the Social Health Authority (SHA), which manages the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF).
During a meeting with top officials led by Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi, the Assembly Committee on Delegated Legislation, Chairman Samuel Chepkonga (Ainabkoi) and Vice Chairperson Hon. Githinji Gichimu (Gichugu), pressed the CS to justify the need for the proposed medical fund given that public servants are already covered under SHA, to which employees contribute a mandatory 2.75 per cent of their monthly gross salary.
The proposed scheme is provided under Public Finance Management (Public Officers Medical Fund) Regulations, 2023, which the committee has concluded reviewing.
Mbadi, however, defended the proposal, saying it is intended to replace the current Comprehensive Medical Scheme for civil servants and disciplined forces, which has been in place since 2012.
“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,” said Mbadi.
He emphasised that the new medical scheme, which will cover approximately 140,000 public servants, is not a duplication but a complementary initiative to SHA coverage.
The regulations seek to establish the Public Officers Medical Scheme Fund, which shall finance the provision of a medical Scheme for public officers; and facilitate expenses approved by the Administrator of the Fund to promote the objects for which the Fund was established.
Its sources of income will include the amount of money appropriated by the National Assembly; contribution made by the ministry responsible for Public Service and any other employer who has opted to contribute to the Scheme out of money payable to public officers as medical benefits; as well as grants and donations.
It was initially meant to public officers in the financial year 2024/2025 with the initial capital coming from money appropriated to the ministry of Public Service and Human Capital Development.
If established in its current form, the Fund will be remitting money to SHA in respect of medical claims and other expenses incurred by public officers.
The CS was accompanied by Principal Secretary for Public Service and Human Capital Development Dr Jane Imbunya, alongside senior officers from the National Treasury.
During the session held at Bunge Towers, the committee examined four other key sets of regulations, including the Also reviewed were the Public Service Superannuation Scheme (PSSS) Regulations, 2025, the Capital Markets (Derivatives Market) (Amendment) Regulations, 2025; and the Central Depositories (Regulation of Central Depositories) (Amendment) Rules, 2025 and the Draft Public Finance Management (Public Prosecutions Fund) Regulations, 2025.
The meeting was also attended by Director of Public Prosecutions Renson Ingonga, among others.
