Civil servants in Murang’a County have been sensitised on insurance benefits available to them under the Work Injury Benefits Act (WIBA), Group Personal Accident (GPA) and Last Expense schemes.
The sensitisation meeting brought together civil servants from various state departments who were taken through the details of the three complementary schemes, including benefits available to them and their dependants in case of accidents, work-related injuries or death.
Speaking during the meeting in Murang’a town, George Manyi, an Assistant Director at the State Department for Public Service and Human Capital Development, said the nationwide sensitisation exercise seeks to ensure civil servants understand the insurance covers secured for them by the Government.
Manyi said the exercise was being conducted in at least three stations in every county to ensure wide coverage and reach as many beneficiaries as possible.
“This exercise is happening throughout the country in at least three stations in every county,” Manyi said.
He said the government had contracted Laser Insurance Brokers to settle claims and provide information to civil servants on the various insurance schemes.
“We are telling civil servants the importance of this exercise so that in case they are injured or deaths occur, they know they are covered,” he said.
Manyi added that the insurance cover had been secured by the State Department for Public Service in conjunction with the Union of Kenya Civil Servants.
He advised civil servants to promptly report accidents, injuries or deaths to their respective human resource departments, which would forward the claims to the insurance brokers for processing.
WIBA covers civil servants against bodily injury or occupational illness sustained during working hours in the course of employment, in accordance with the Work Injury Benefits Act, 2007.
The benefits include compensation for temporary total disablement, permanent total disablement and permanent partial disablement, as well as medical expenses arising from work-related injuries or occupational diseases. The scheme also provides death benefits to legal dependants and funeral expenses as prescribed under the Act.
The Group Personal Accident scheme, on the other hand, covers civil servants against bodily injury or death resulting from accidents occurring both on and off duty, extending protection beyond WIBA.
GPA benefits include compensation for accidental death, permanent total disability and medical expenses. The scheme also provides artificial appliances, including prostheses and wheelchairs, where required as a result of an accident.
The Last Expense scheme covers the civil servant, one declared spouse and up to five children. It provides funeral expenses in the event of the death of the civil servant, the spouse or any of the covered children.
By Purity Mugo
