Knut in strike threat over NHIF rates

Teachers have threatened to go on strike next month if the new National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF) rates are not revoked.

Kenya National Union of Teachers (Knut) also said it had kicked off a signature collection exercise to push for the sacking of Education Cabinet Secretary Jacob Kaimenyi.

In a unanimous decision made during a Knut Advisory Council meeting, teachers also demanded immediate revocation of the contentious Basic Education Regulations that they claim give the ministry more powers over teachers.

"We want these conditions met by June 1. If not we shall have a general strike like never seen before," said Sossion.

Knut also wants all teachers' promotions to be completed by June 30.

Sossion asked President Uhuru Kenyatta to relieve Kaimenyi of his ministerial duties.

"He has been a disgrace to the ministry and we shall ask MPs to support us in advancing this (bid to dislodge him)," he said.

Addressing the members on NHIF, Knut Secretary General Wilson Sossion also demanded that teachers April NHIF deductions be refunded with immediate effect.

"What do they want to do with teachers money when they have not explained the benefits? We shall not let NHIF access teachers money even for a single day," he said.

Sossion said the union had decided to push for the Sh5.6 billion medical cover for all the teachers, claiming the NHIF cover has been manipulated.

"This thing (NHIF) is coming late in the day when we had made major milestones to afford teachers a comprehensive cover," said Sossion.

The unionists listed five conditions they want met before teachers' money is remitted to NHIF.

"We want major reforms that have stalled at the fund (NHIF) to be completed. We also want to know what the Government shall contribute alongside teachers. On this one it is zero," said Sossion.

He said if teachers will be charged 1.5 per cent of their basic pay, the Government must pay twice as much towards the medical cover.

The new rates will see least contributors pay Sh150 and some Sh1,700 for highest limits, based on salary bands.

This will push NHIF collections to Sh2.3 billion every month, up from Sh800 million.

Sossion said teachers also want a complete overhaul of the NHIF Act to get rid of blanket policy reviews.