KUPPET threatens strike due to dysfunctional health system and insurance defaults

The Embu branch of the Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) has announced a strike against the government, citing the dysfunctional health system as the reason.

In their press conferences from their headquarters, officials revealed the disastrous state of hospitals and called for government intervention within seven days.

Teachers have expressed concerns about not receiving treatment, delays in hospital admissions and discrimination in some hospitals. Other challenges include processing referrals between hospitals and raising money for orthopedic implants for accident victims.

Eric Kimwere, Health Officer of KUPPET Embu branch, also highlighted the problems teachers face in obtaining health insurance coverage in hospitals.

“The teachers have decided to request harambees, which should not be acceptable as they have comprehensive health insurance coverage,” said Kimwere.

“We at KUPPET have no other choice. We have now said that enough is enough and we will call our members out onto the streets to make it clear that we are not prepared to continue with this monkey business,” he reiterated.

Union representatives expressed frustration that teachers are being deducted monthly for poor hospital services that do not match their dues. Executive Secretary Jacob Karura called on the TSC to clear outstanding hospital bills to enable smooth operations.

“The hospitals have not received any payments from the government for nine months. We are asking TSC to pay the money,” Karura said.

“The government should immediately procure medicines so that the teachers can be treated,” he reiterated.

Karura also raised concerns about the frequency with which teachers resort to fundraising despite having active health insurance. He explained that the government does not remit their contributions to the insurance providers. The union confirmed that its efforts to reach the relevant authorities by letter had been in vain.

“We are told that the employer has not paid the hospitals. This is none of our business. We just want treatment because we have been given deductions for this,” they explained.

The union said if their complaints are not addressed within the next seven days, they will march to the insurance headquarters to demand their rights. The hospitals affected include Teneri Hospital and Imara Hospital.

Responding to speculation that the rejected Finance Bill 2024 will affect the employment of teachers, KUPPET called on the government to employ teachers on a permanent basis and with pension rights without using this as an excuse for its negligence in prioritising teachers.