A Star investigation has found that over 1,000 police officers are still waiting to receive workmen's compensation for injuries received on duty.
In many cases, they have been already assessed for compensation ranging from Sh3.2 million for loss of a leg to Sh760,000 for a broken pelvis after falling into a manhole at night.
The delays in payment are due to bureaucracy (apparently you have to recover before the final damage can be assessed) and the NHIF which is only responsible for insurance payouts after 2019.
People love to complain about the police and how they demand bribes for the smallest thing. But it also true that they do a difficult and dangerous job for low pay and often live in squalid conditions. They deserve better and then we can hold them to account.
So the government should try and sort out this mess, whether it is the fault of the NHIF or their employer, the Kenya Police Service. The amount outstanding is probably around Sh2 billion. That is a lot but still affordable for government, especially when we consider the risky nature of much police work.
Quote of the day: "Do not worship me, I am not God. I'm only a man. I worship Jesus Christ."
Haile Selassie
The Ethiopian Emperor was deposed in a military coup on September 12, 1974