Row erupts over teachers' medical plan

Teachers Service Commission (TSC) has said the process to provide all teachers with a comprehensive medical cover has begun and dismissed fraud claims by a teachers' union.

Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (Kuppet) yesterday said TSC had already "pre- determined" the insurance firm to implement the scheme and faulted newspaper adverts requesting firms to express interest.

"We are aware that TSC and our rival union have already picked an insurance broker to manage the scheme but we shall not accept it," said Kuppet Secretary General Akelo Misori. He produced a document titled "Scheme Administration" with the logos of an international insurance provider, TSC and Kenya National Union of Teachers (Knut).

"Knut officials are using this document to convince teachers that they will not benefit unless they become members of their union," said Misori.

But TSC Secretary Gabriel Lengoiboni dismissed the claims as baseless, saying the commission had already developed a medical scheme but just advertised for a firm to manage it.

Knut Secretary General Wilson Sossion said the document in circulation is not authentic as it does not have signatures of union officials.