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Kenya Hosts Malawi Delegation on Benchmarking Visit for Civil Servants’ Medical Scheme

By Brian Kochwa

Tuesday, 26th August 2025 | Harambee House, Nairobi

Kenya’s Medical Scheme for Civil Servants, a cornerstone of social protection for public officers, continues to attract regional interest as a model for safeguarding the health and well-being of government workers.

On Tuesday morning, Dr. Jane Kere Imbunya, Principal Secretary in the State Department for Public Service and Human Capital Development, welcomed a high-level delegation from Malawi at Harambee House. The team, led by Dr. Maxwell Tsitsi, Principal Secretary for Administration in the Office of the President and Cabinet of Malawi, was on a benchmarking mission to study Kenya’s approach to designing and implementing the medical scheme.

Speaking during the visit, Dr. Imbunya emphasized that the scheme not only guarantees access to quality healthcare for civil servants but also shields their families from the financial strain of medical expenses.

“A healthy workforce is a productive workforce. By ensuring that civil servants and their dependents have comprehensive medical coverage, the government promotes efficiency, continuity in service delivery, and overall morale across the public service,” she said.

The Medical Scheme for Civil Servants, established as part of Kenya’s wider social protection agenda, provides both preventive and curative care, ensuring timely treatment for public officers. It is credited with reducing out-of-pocket expenses for thousands of families, thereby protecting them from financial shocks related to illness.

The Malawian delegation expressed interest in how Kenya has structured, financed, and sustained the scheme, noting that it serves as an important model for strengthening human capital development and service delivery.

Dr. Tsitsi commended Kenya for the initiative, stating that Malawi seeks to draw lessons that will inform the establishment of a similar program to benefit its civil service.

The exchange underscores the growing importance of cross-country collaboration in Africa, particularly in strengthening social protection systems and improving the welfare of public servants who play a critical role in governance and national development.

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