Knut tells government to re-visit health insurance for teachers

KIAMBU, KENYA: The Kenya National Union of Teachers (Knut) has urged the government to comprehensively insure all teachers in health instead of trying to push for unrealistic terms and conditions through the Teachers Service Commission (TSC).

Kiambu West Knut branch secretary Michael Muna said that many teachers were being exposed to the vagaries of poor health services, some even dying due to lack of cash.

This as pupils of Kimende primary school in Lari constituency mourned the death of their favorite teacher who succumbed to brain meningitis last weekend.

The desperate pupils have since started collecting cash from well wishers and their parents aimed at supporting the family of the teacher who left a raise of Sh 2 million hospital bill.

A standard 4 pupil Pauline Waithera said their teacher has been very active saying even if he had been admitted several times, he struggled to attend his lessons and his family deserved pupils help.

"We learnt from pupils who come from our teacher's village that, his family is now broke and that it cannot raise the hospital bill. We are collecting money from people to help his family" Waithera said.

"We are pleading with our parents, friends and well wishers to give us what they have and we shall deliver it to the family" the pupils added.

Jacqueline Wangare who is the late teacher's husband said that he passed away at Nairobi West hospital where he left a bill of Sh 2 million adding that the hospital has detained his body until the money is paid.

She said that, Njoroge started feeling unwell in early February this year, and he has been admitted thrice in different hospitals, but it was discovered that he was suffering from brain meningitis in May.

"We used a lot of money in all these hospitals he was admitted. We had to sell our cows, goats, chicken and we were planning for a fund raising in August 10, but that didn't happen" she said.

Speaking at their home in Kabunge village while accompanied by her father in law David Waweru, she said the bill could rise because of the mortuary bill.

The official urged the ministry of education and teachers service commission to revisit and amend the hospital insurance of teachers in order to help offset such bills.

"Such cases are which we keep talking about. A teacher dies and leaves huge bill to their spouses. The insurance needs to be revisited and amended" Muna said.