As the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) prepares for its transition to the Social Health Authority (SHA) on October 1, 2024, employees have been reassured that the shift will not result in job losses. 

Concerns have surfaced among staff regarding their future, with tensions rising due to a vetting and recruitment process by the incoming SHA.

However, NHIF management has sought to ease these worries, asserting that all employees will retain their positions. 

NHIF CEO Elijah Wachira emphasized that the transition will not lead to layoffs.

“No employee will lose their job. SHA will recruit based on its requirements, but current NHIF staff are secure," Mr Wachira said.

This assurance comes as NHIF nears the end of its 58-year operation, a legacy tainted by repeated allegations of corruption. 

The 2023 Social Health Insurance Act, which establishes the SHA, includes provisions for the smooth transfer of NHIF's assets and contracts to the new entity. 

Contracts currently held by NHIF will be honoured by SHA, guaranteeing job continuity for NHIF staff.

The leadership at NHIF has also been tackling past corruption issues. A report by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) in early 2024 revealed significant financial mismanagement, prompting efforts to remove those involved in corrupt activities.

"We’ve taken action where corruption is proven, and those individuals are no longer with us," noted Mr Wachira.

Despite some opposition to the SHA’s rollout, which disrupted healthcare worker training programmes, the transition process has gained momentum.

Registration under SHA has steadily increased, with 1.9 million Kenyans already registered as of Saturday.

Mr Wachira added that recent days have seen over 100,000 new sign-ups per day, driven by a streamlined registration process.

While most of the NHIF’s data will be transferred to SHA, about a quarter of the current registration information will need to be updated. 

Mr Wachira expressed optimism, projecting that SHA could enroll up to 20 million Kenyans in the near future.

Though the transition marks the end of an era for NHIF, the promise of job security and a new regulatory framework under SHA could signal a fresh chapter for both healthcare staff and enrollees in Kenya.