Workers decry suspect health scheme

BY EDWIN CHESEREK

Uasin Gishu,Kenya;They claim KVDA management withdrew medical allowances for over 500 workers eight months ago

A planned workers’ medical scheme at Kerio Valley Development Authority (KVDA) has raised controversy.

This was after the management withdrew medical allowances for more than 500 employees eight months ago, promising to replace them with a comprehensive medical scheme.

But KVDA chairperson Sophia Lepuchirit expressed concern why the management stopped medical allowances without the board’s approval.

“I was surprised to learn that the allowances were withdrawn arbitrarily without proper consultation between the workers and management,” she said.

Ms Lepuchirit said the controversial medical scheme came to her attention after employees protested the death of three staff, who allegedly failed to access healthcare.

TUSSLE

She suggested the company should have ensured the scheme was in place before deducting the allowance to avert the ongoing tussle.

But the agency’s Managing Director David Kimosop maintained that the employees and the company struck the deal to seek a comprehensive medical cover. “We convened a meeting and the workers did agree that we look for a scheme contrary to what they are giving now,” Kimosop told The Standard.

He noted that the agency was in the process of establishing a suitable scheme for its employees and called for patience as they sorted out the matter.

STRONG OPPOSITION

The staff strongly opposed the idea, saying the company offered scanty details on the supposed benefits from the purported medical scheme.

Lepuchirit said she would convene a board meeting to find out why the management arrived at the decision without involving concerned parties.

“Even if the management agreed with the staff on the need to seek for a comprehensive scheme, it cannot take that long to be implemented,” she added.

The workers want to know if the Health Ministry was aware of the scheme.