LSK Pushes for Faster Settlement of Work Injury Claims as Workers Face Compensation Delays

LSK Pushes for Faster Settlement of Work Injury Claims Through Improved DOSH Services, Enhanced Digital Tracking and Stronger Coordination to Ensure Injured Workers Receive Timely Compensation and Justice.

The Law Society of Kenya (LSK) is pushing for faster processing and settlement of work injury compensation claims following concerns over delays that continue to affect workers seeking compensation after workplace accidents and occupational diseases.

The professional body is calling for improvements in the administration of claims under the Work Injury Benefits Act (WIBA), including better coordination between the Directorate of Occupational Safety and Health Services (DOSH) and advocates representing injured workers.

The renewed push followed a meeting between LSK President Charles Kanjama and DOSH officials on Tuesday, October 13, 2026. The discussions focused on improving service delivery, expediting the processing and settlement of claims, and ensuring that advocates can track cases effectively and receive their professional fees without unnecessary delays.

In an update published on October 14, LSK said the engagement had also addressed the need to improve the online claims portal, educate the public on the procedures for seeking compensation and strengthen cooperation between the institutions involved in handling workplace injury cases.

The meeting also examined concerns about fictitious claims and the importance of following the prescribed administrative procedures before referring disputes to the Employment and Labour Relations Court.

The engagement marks an effort to address practical challenges within Kenya’s work injury compensation system, which is intended to provide financial protection to employees who suffer injuries or contract occupational diseases while carrying out their duties.

For workers who experience serious accidents, timely compensation can make a significant difference in their recovery and financial stability. Delays can leave injured employees struggling to meet medical expenses, support their families and adjust to life after an accident, particularly when the injury prevents them from returning to work.

LSK’s latest intervention therefore places renewed attention on the need for a compensation process that is accessible, efficient and responsive to the needs of affected workers.

LSK Wants Improvements to the Work Injury Claims Portal

One of the key issues discussed during the October 13 meeting was the need to improve the online claims portal used in administering work injury compensation cases.

The portal is an important part of the process because it can help advocates and other authorised users follow the progress of claims, access relevant updates and understand what action may be required at different stages.

However, when applicants and their representatives cannot easily obtain information about the status of a claim, uncertainty can develop. Workers may be left waiting for updates, while advocates may have difficulty determining whether documents have been received, whether additional information is required or whether a matter is awaiting a decision.

LSK wants the system improved to make it easier for advocates to monitor cases and obtain timely information.

A more effective portal could help reduce unnecessary follow-ups, improve communication and allow applicants to identify delays earlier. It could also make it easier for the relevant officials to organise their workloads and identify cases that require attention.

For injured workers, better digital services could provide greater clarity about the progress of their claims. Although an online platform cannot resolve every administrative challenge, reliable information can help applicants understand the process and plan their next steps.

The improvement of the portal would also support transparency. When claims can be tracked more effectively, it becomes easier for authorised parties to identify where a case stands and determine whether further action is necessary.

LSK and DOSH have indicated that they will continue engaging on the issues raised during the meeting. The discussions are part of broader efforts to improve the administration of work injury claims and strengthen communication between legal practitioners and occupational safety officials.

The effectiveness of the proposed improvements will ultimately depend on whether they translate into shorter processing times, clearer communication and more predictable outcomes for people seeking compensation.

Why Faster Compensation Matters to Injured Workers

Workplace injuries can have serious consequences for employees and their families, particularly when accidents result in permanent disability, prolonged treatment or death.

An employee who suffers a serious injury may be unable to continue working for weeks or months. In severe cases, the worker may never return to the same occupation.

During that period, the affected employee may face medical expenses, rehabilitation costs, transport expenses and other financial obligations. Families may also lose an important source of income at a time when they need additional resources to support recovery.

Compensation is intended to help address the financial consequences of work-related injuries and occupational diseases in accordance with the law.

When the process takes longer than necessary, injured workers may experience additional hardship. Some may depend on relatives or friends to meet daily expenses, while others may struggle to pay for treatment or support children and other dependants.

The consequences can be particularly severe for employees who work in physically demanding occupations and depend on their ability to perform manual tasks to earn a living.

A construction worker who suffers a serious injury, for example, may be unable to return to a building site. Similarly, a factory employee who sustains permanent damage to a limb may require rehabilitation and may have to consider a different occupation.

For such workers, compensation can provide an important measure of financial support as they recover or adjust to their new circumstances.

The need for timely settlement is also significant when a workplace accident results in death. Dependants may suddenly lose their primary source of income, making the compensation process important to their financial security.

LSK’s push for more efficient claims administration is therefore relevant not only to legal practitioners but also to employees and families whose welfare may depend on the outcome of a compensation claim.

What the Work Injury Benefits Act Provides

Kenya’s work injury compensation system is principally governed by the Work Injury Benefits Act, 2007.

The law provides a framework for compensating employees who suffer work-related injuries or contract occupational diseases in the course of their employment. It also establishes procedures for reporting accidents, assessing injuries and determining the benefits payable to affected workers or their dependants.

Depending on the circumstances and the applicable legal requirements, compensation may relate to temporary incapacity, permanent disability or death arising from an occupational accident or disease.

The Act also requires employers to maintain insurance against liabilities arising from work-related injuries and occupational diseases.

The purpose of the framework is to provide a recognised process through which affected employees can seek compensation rather than being left without a clear route for addressing the financial consequences of an accident.

However, accessing compensation requires the relevant procedures to be followed. Injuries must be reported, supporting information must be provided, and the circumstances of the incident may need to be investigated before an award can be determined.

Medical assessments can also be necessary to establish the nature and extent of an injury and its effect on an employee’s ability to work.

Where information is incomplete, an accident is disputed or further medical assessment is required, the process may become more complicated.

LSK’s engagement with DOSH seeks to improve the administration of these procedures so that genuine claims can be handled efficiently while the authorities continue to examine their validity.

The goal is to ensure that administrative requirements serve their intended purpose without creating unnecessary obstacles for workers who are entitled to compensation.

DOSH and Advocates Seek Better Coordination

The meeting between LSK and DOSH also highlighted the importance of stronger cooperation between the officials responsible for administering work injury claims and the advocates who assist applicants.

Advocates can help injured workers understand their rights, prepare relevant documentation and navigate the legal and administrative requirements involved in seeking compensation.

However, effective representation depends partly on access to accurate information about the status of a case and the steps required to move it forward.

Where communication is limited, applicants and their representatives may struggle to establish whether a delay arises from missing documents, pending assessments, administrative backlogs or a dispute requiring further attention.

Improved coordination could help clarify responsibilities and make it easier to resolve routine issues before they develop into prolonged disputes.

It could also provide an opportunity for DOSH officials and advocates to identify recurring problems and agree on practical ways of addressing them.

LSK has indicated that the engagement will continue, suggesting that the October 13 meeting is part of an ongoing effort rather than a one-off discussion.

For the proposed changes to deliver meaningful results, communication will need to remain consistent and the institutions involved will need to monitor whether the agreed improvements are working.

Workers should not have to navigate an unnecessarily confusing process to obtain information about a claim arising from an injury sustained while earning a living.

At the same time, a more efficient system must preserve the ability to examine evidence, verify the circumstances of accidents and determine compensation in accordance with the law.

Public Awareness Remains a Major Priority

Another issue raised during the meeting was the need to sensitise the public about DOSH claims procedures and the timelines involved in processing compensation.

Many workers may be unfamiliar with the steps they need to take after a workplace accident. Some may not know where to report an injury, which documents are required or which authority is responsible for assessing their claim.

Others may assume that an employer’s internal accident report automatically guarantees compensation, without understanding the additional procedures that may be required.

These information gaps can create difficulties for employees who are already dealing with pain, medical treatment or the financial consequences of an accident.

Public education can help workers understand their responsibilities and the available mechanisms for seeking redress.

Employers also need to understand their obligations, including the importance of reporting workplace accidents promptly, cooperating with the relevant authorities and maintaining the required insurance cover.

Clear information about procedures and deadlines can reduce avoidable mistakes and help applicants prepare the documentation needed to support their claims.

Advocates and professional organisations can contribute by educating members of the public about the compensation process and helping them distinguish between genuine legal requirements and misinformation.

DOSH can also support awareness efforts by providing accessible information through its offices, official communication channels and engagement with employers, workers’ organisations and legal practitioners.

The objective should be to ensure that employees can identify the appropriate steps to take after an accident and understand what to expect as their claims progress.

Better public awareness may not eliminate all delays, but it can help prevent problems caused by incomplete information, missed requirements or confusion about the process.

Fictitious Claims Raise Concerns About Accountability

The discussions between LSK and DOSH also addressed concerns about fictitious work injury claims.

The institutions emphasised the need for cooperation in identifying and addressing claims that may be false or unsupported.

This issue is important because a compensation system must protect genuine claimants while preventing abuse. False claims can consume administrative resources, create disputes and undermine confidence in the system.

Investigating questionable claims can also help ensure that compensation decisions are based on reliable information about the accident, the employee’s injuries and the circumstances in which the incident occurred.

However, efforts to prevent fraud must be balanced with safeguards for genuine applicants. An injured worker should not face unnecessary obstacles simply because authorities need to verify a claim.

The verification process should be fair, evidence-based and proportionate to the circumstances of each case.

Employers, employees, medical practitioners, insurers, advocates and government officials all have responsibilities in maintaining the credibility of the compensation system.

Accurate accident reports, reliable medical records and honest communication can help authorities assess claims more effectively.

The challenge is to create a system that can identify fraudulent applications without delaying legitimate claims or denying workers the benefits to which they are entitled.

LSK’s engagement with DOSH signals that the institutions recognise the importance of addressing both efficiency and accountability.

Workers Must Follow the Prescribed Administrative Process

The meeting also highlighted the need to exhaust the applicable administrative procedures before referring disputes to the Employment and Labour Relations Court.

Kenya’s work injury compensation framework has undergone significant legal developments over the years, including litigation over the constitutionality and operation of the Work Injury Benefits Act.

In its December 2019 decision in Law Society of Kenya v Attorney General & another, the Supreme Court upheld the Act’s framework, including the statutory process for handling work injury claims.

Under the established framework, claims generally begin through the Directorate of Occupational Safety and Health Services, subject to applicable transitional arrangements and subsequent court directions. Disputes and appeals must follow the relevant statutory procedures.

The precise route available in a particular case can depend on when the claim was filed and the legal issues involved. Workers and employers should therefore obtain appropriate guidance where the correct procedure is uncertain.

Following the required process is important because approaching the wrong forum or failing to comply with applicable requirements may cause additional delays.

However, administrative procedures must also operate efficiently. The existence of a prescribed process should not become a reason for avoidable stagnation or unclear communication.

LSK’s call for faster settlement is therefore significant because it seeks to improve the operation of the existing system while recognising the importance of complying with the law.

A properly functioning process should enable genuine claims to move forward, provide clear reasons where further action is required and offer appropriate avenues for challenging decisions.

Workplace Accidents Remain a Serious Concern in Kenya

The push for faster compensation comes amid continuing concerns about occupational safety and the number of workers injured or killed while carrying out their duties.

According to figures released by the State Department for Labour and Skills Development in May 2026, Kenya recorded 2,508 workplace accidents by March 31, 2026. Of these, 111 were fatal.

The figures represented an increase in reported fatalities compared with the same period in 2025, when 2,501 occupational accidents and 93 deaths were recorded.

For the whole of 2025, the department reported 10,797 workplace injuries, including 430 fatal cases.

The statistics underscore the importance of preventing workplace accidents and ensuring that affected employees and their families can access the support provided under the law.

Workplace incidents can occur in a range of industries, including construction, manufacturing, transport, agriculture and other occupations involving machinery, hazardous materials or physically demanding tasks.

Some accidents result from unsafe equipment, inadequate training, poor working conditions or failures to follow established safety procedures. Others involve complex circumstances that require investigation before responsibility and compensation can be determined.

Employers have a responsibility to provide safe working environments and comply with occupational safety requirements. Employees must also follow applicable safety procedures and report hazards where appropriate.

Prevention remains essential because compensation cannot reverse the physical, emotional and financial consequences of a serious injury or death.

Nevertheless, when accidents occur, an effective compensation system is necessary to protect workers and their dependants from being left without appropriate support.

The reported figures therefore reinforce the importance of addressing workplace safety alongside improvements in claims administration.

LSK Plans Training for Advocates

LSK has also indicated that it intends to organise Continuing Professional Development training to familiarise advocates with procedures and administrative practices within the occupational safety and health sector.

The training is expected to help legal practitioners understand the claims process and guide clients through the required steps.

This is important because work injury compensation can involve specialised documentation, medical assessments, statutory deadlines and administrative procedures that may be unfamiliar to some practitioners.

Training can help advocates identify the appropriate forum for a claim, understand the information required to support an application and advise clients on the available procedures for addressing disputes.

It can also provide an opportunity for legal practitioners to learn about changes in administrative practice and raise recurring challenges affecting their clients.

For workers, better-informed advocates may help reduce avoidable errors and improve the quality of assistance available when navigating a claim.

Professional training alone cannot resolve every administrative problem, but it can improve cooperation between practitioners and the officials responsible for handling compensation matters.

LSK’s planned programme is part of its wider engagement with DOSH and reflects the need for continued communication as the compensation framework evolves.

The success of the initiative will depend on whether training is followed by practical improvements in case management, communication and the timely resolution of claims.

What Faster Settlement Could Mean for Workers and Employers

If the proposed improvements are implemented effectively, faster claims processing could benefit several groups involved in the compensation system.

For injured workers, better tracking and clearer timelines could reduce uncertainty and make it easier to understand the status of an application.

For dependants of workers who die in occupational accidents, a more predictable process could help them understand the steps required to pursue compensation during an already difficult period.

Employers could also benefit from clearer procedures and more effective communication, allowing them to meet their obligations and resolve legitimate claims with fewer administrative complications.

Insurers and advocates may benefit from better access to information and more predictable case handling.

Government officials could also use improved digital systems to identify bottlenecks, monitor processing times and allocate resources to areas experiencing persistent delays.

However, achieving these outcomes will require more than discussions between institutions. It will depend on practical implementation, adequate administrative capacity and a willingness to address problems identified by workers and their representatives.

The institutions involved will need to determine whether the portal improvements are sufficient, whether processing timelines are being observed and whether applicants can obtain meaningful updates without repeated follow-ups.

It will also be important to measure whether genuine claims are being settled more quickly without weakening the verification procedures needed to prevent fraud.

Workers ultimately need a system that is not only legally sound but also capable of delivering compensation within a reasonable period.

A Push for a More Efficient Compensation System

LSK’s engagement with DOSH has renewed attention on the challenges facing workers who seek compensation after workplace injuries and occupational diseases.

The meeting on October 13, 2026, focused on practical changes that could improve claims processing, strengthen coordination, enhance digital tracking and increase public awareness of the procedures involved.

The institutions also addressed the need to identify fictitious claims and ensure that disputes follow the prescribed administrative process.

The discussions come at a time when workplace accidents continue to affect thousands of employees across Kenya, underlining the importance of both prevention and effective compensation.

For injured workers, the process can determine how quickly they obtain financial support while recovering from an accident or adjusting to permanent disability. For families who lose breadwinners, it can be an important source of support after a devastating loss.

LSK has signalled that it intends to continue engaging DOSH on the concerns raised during the meeting, including the claims portal, processing timelines and cooperation between officials and advocates.

The next challenge will be turning these discussions into measurable improvements that workers can experience when seeking compensation.

Ultimately, an effective work injury compensation system must balance speed, fairness and accountability. Genuine claims should not be held up by avoidable administrative delays, while verification procedures must remain strong enough to protect the system against abuse.

As LSK and DOSH continue their engagement, workers will be looking for clearer communication, easier access to information and faster decisions on the claims that affect their livelihoods.