The loss of a police officer in the line of duty is a profound tragedy, not only for their family but also for the communities they serve.
The government and related institutions have established frameworks to provide financial and other support to the families of officers who die while performing their duties.
In this article, WoK explores the compensation and benefits available to the families of Kenyan police officers who lose their lives on duty.
The compensation for families of police officers who die on duty is primarily governed by the National Police Service Act and related policies under the National Police Service Commission (NPSC), as well as the Work Injury Benefits Act (WIBA) of 2007.
These laws aim to ensure that the dependents of fallen officers receive financial support to mitigate the economic hardship caused by their loss.
Under WIBA, which applies to all employees in Kenya including police officers, the family of an officer who dies due to a work-related incident is entitled to compensation.
This includes a lump sum payment if the officer’s death is directly attributable to their duties, such as being killed during a security operation, calculated based on the officer’s earnings, typically equivalent to 96 months of their monthly salary, subject to a minimum and maximum cap set by the law.
Additionally, a one-time payment is provided to cover funeral expenses, often ranging between Ksh 30,000 and Ksh 50,000, depending on the circumstances and administrative discretion.
A monthly pension may also be paid to the spouse and children under 18 years of age, or up to 21 if in full-time education, usually a percentage of the officer’s salary, often around 60-70%, though specifics can vary.
The National Police Service also offers additional benefits tailored to its officers.
While exact figures can fluctuate based on rank, years of service, and policy updates, a death gratuity is often disbursed as a lump sum payment to the officer’s next of kin, historically ranging between Ksh 200,000 and Ksh 500,000, though it may be adjusted for inflation or special circumstances like international missions.
Last expense support is another provision, where the NPSC or the officer’s unit may cover immediate funeral costs, sometimes supplemented by contributions from colleagues or police welfare groups.
Officers enrolled in the NPSC pension scheme may have accrued benefits that are passed on to their dependents, including a lump sum based on contributions and a monthly pension for the surviving spouse until remarriage or death, and for children until they reach adulthood.
Kenyan police officers deployed on international peacekeeping missions, such as the Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission in Haiti, may be eligible for enhanced compensation.
For instance, following the death of a Kenyan officer in Haiti on February 24, 2025, reports indicated that the family would receive support from both Kenyan authorities and the mission’s framework.
While specific amounts for this incident remain undisclosed, international missions often provide additional insurance payouts, sometimes exceeding KSh 1 million, on top of national benefits.
