Teachers throughout Kenya, by their union, the Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET), have issued a stern ultimatum to the federal government, saying plans for a nationwide strike starting on March 3, 2025, ought to their grievances stay unaddressed.
The choice comes as frustrations mount over the federal government’s alleged failure to resolve the persistent healthcare disaster affecting academics.
Addressing the press on Wednesday, February 26, KUPPET officers from Kisii County overtly criticized the federal government for neglecting academics’ welfare, notably regarding medical insurance coverage.
Led by KUPPET Kisii Branch Chairperson Laban Ooko, the officers lamented that 1000’s of academics had been struggling to entry medical therapy at varied hospitals as a consequence of inconsistencies of their medical insurance scheme.
According to Ooko, quite a few academics have discovered themselves unable to obtain essential medical providers as hospitals throughout the nation flip them away as a consequence of unpaid insurance coverage claims. This scenario, he famous, has positioned academics in misery, making it almost unimaginable for them to successfully discharge their duties.
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Ooko expressed the academics’ frustration, emphasizing that their demand was not nearly private advantages however about guaranteeing that professionals who dedicate their lives to educating the nation obtain dignified healthcare.
“The government should be disbursing about Ksh30 billion to cater for the health insurance of all teachers and police officers. As teachers of Kenya, we are putting the government on notice,” declared Ooko.
He additional warned that if the federal government fails to behave throughout the coming week, all academics throughout the nation can be mobilized to stop educating actions in protest. Parents had been suggested to not ship their youngsters to highschool as academics wouldn’t be obtainable to supply classes.
In a present of solidarity, the KUPPET Chairperson prolonged an invite to law enforcement officials, urging them to hitch academics in demanding a correct and purposeful medical insurance scheme. He famous that law enforcement officials, like academics, had been additionally affected by the failing system and deserved to have their medical wants addressed.
“This is not just about teachers; it’s about all public servants who rely on the government for medical support. If the police officers, who risk their lives daily for this nation, are experiencing similar challenges, then it is time for us to unite in this struggle,” Ooko mentioned.
Ooko took the chance to make clear that the upcoming demonstrations weren’t about pushing for wage increments however solely about demanding entry to healthcare.
He condemned the federal government for withholding funds meant for staff’ medical wants and referred to as out the Rural and Urban Private Hospitals Association of Kenya (RUPHA) for suspending important providers as a consequence of non-payment of medical insurance claims.
“It is shameful that the government has withheld money meant for workers’ healthcare. It is equally shameful that RUPHA has suspended services affecting Kenyans because the government has declined to release funds. As KUPPET, we represent teachers in this country, and we shall be calling for a special strike—not to push for salary increments, but to demand the safeguarding of Kenyans’ healthcare,” he reiterated.
The academics’ ultimatum follows a current transfer by RUPHA, which represents non-public hospitals, together with faith-based well being amenities, to droop providers in all non-public hospitals nationwide.
The affiliation cited the federal government’s failure to settle a backlog of pending medical insurance claims amounting to Ksh30 billion, making it unimaginable for hospitals to proceed offering providers.
This suspension has left 1000’s of public servants, together with academics and law enforcement officials, stranded with out medical care, escalating frustrations amongst these reliant on the insurance coverage scheme.
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