Parliamentary scrutiny has intensified over delayed payments to families of police officers who died while on duty, with officials from the National Police Service (NPS) and Britam Insurance facing tough questions for failing to clear over Sh220 million in claims.
During Thursday’s session of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), members expressed frustration at the years-long delays, despite contracts requiring insurers to process payments promptly. Some families have reportedly waited up to two years to receive compensation for officers who died in 2023.
The concern emerged after the Auditor General’s report highlighted unpaid claims totaling more than Sh220 million for the year ending June 2023, a clear breach of contractual timelines.
NPS officials, led by Bernice Sialaal Lemedeket, said progress had been made but acknowledged some claims remain pending.
“We have paid 96 cases worth Sh205 million, three claims valued at Sh6 million are still being processed, while two claims worth Sh3.4 million were settled separately by KRA,” she told the committee.
Lawmakers were unconvinced, noting that delays increase the suffering of bereaved families.
“Why does compensation take years, yet premiums are expected to be paid on time?” Aldai MP Maryanne Kitany asked.
Mathioya MP Edwin Mugo dismissed “processing” as a valid reason, pointing out that deaths from 2023 were only being settled in 2025. Teso South MP Mary Emase warned that the flagged Sh220 million may represent just a portion of pending claims across the country, emphasizing the need for faster payouts.
The NPS cited limited funding, late government disbursements, and incomplete documentation as reasons for the delays. Funyula MP Wilberforce Oundo challenged the explanation, saying officers put their lives at risk to protect citizens, yet their families suffer when they die.
Britam manager Bernard Murage defended the insurer, noting that premium payments are vital for operations.
“Our main constraint is actually the premium. For us to be able to run efficiently, the first thing we require is that insurance is a cash-and-carry service—you pay, you get the full service,” he explained.
PAC members rejected this rationale, demanding that payment schedules be strictly followed and digital platforms implemented to accelerate claims processing.
PAC chair Tindi Mwale warned that the committee would continue pressing for payments.
“I’m very sure that without summoning you, you will not have paid this money. I’m very sure that even the next one, you will pay only when we summon. We will be summoning and helping the accounting officer to make sure that you pay, because all the pressure is with the accounting officer,” he said.
Wilberforce Oundo criticized the government for failing families of deceased officers.
“They expose themselves to the dangers of life, yet the government cannot pay the premiums. Today, when they die, their children, wives, and husbands languish in poverty, yet they have given exemplary service to this country. What a shame,” he said.
The committee also questioned delays in the Administration Police Service projects, including a multi-storey housing project, which saw costs rise after a contract was terminated and a new contractor brought in. Rarieda MP Otiende Amollo asked whether taxpayers lost money due to the changes.
“In the course of the original and the retendering, we are talking of a difference of Ksh.73 million. Is it fair to say the taxpayer lost Ksh.73 million on this project?” he asked.
NPS accounting head Samuel Thiongo insisted there was no loss, attributing the increase to an expanded scope of work.
“There was no loss of funds. The increment was caused by a change of scope of work; the scope increased in retendering,” he said.
Lawmakers also questioned whether various ongoing construction works at police stations were delivering value for money.
