If teachers in the six North Rift counties cease work on Wednesday, February 5, learning will come to a standstill.
The teachers are organizing a protest in response to a healthcare access crisis that has deprived thousands of medical care at their preferred facilities.
Consequently, they provided their employer, the Teachers Service Commission (TSC), with a 24-hour window to address their concerns, failing which they would commence their go-slow action.
The teachers’ unions, namely the Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) and the Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET), state that due to a reduction in the number of healthcare facilities covered by their insurance provider, tutors have been unable to access treatment.
The teachers state that they have been limited in their ability to access health care at facilities that do not have proper equipment and do not conform to the standards of Level 4 and Level 5 hospitals, which may jeopardize the quality of care they obtain.
The teachers continue to be puzzled about the reason for the removal of services from all primary medical facilities. The teachers have issued a 24-hour ultimatum to Minet, the insurance provider for the Teachers Service Commission (TSC), to lift the imposed restrictions.
On Monday, hundreds of educators, spearheaded by KNUT and KUPPET representatives, demonstrated at Minet’s North Rift offices in Eldoret, calling for an urgent solution to the healthcare disruption that has especially impacted individuals with chronic conditions.
The teachers voiced their frustrations regarding the withdrawal of services, noting that teachers are facing difficulties.
Rose Cheboi, Uasin Gishu Women Representative, stated, “Teachers suffering from diabetes and other chronic illnesses are unable to access their regular doctors due to arbitrary directives from our insurer.”
Furthermore, “The government offered this insurance to meet our needs, but we reject the monopolistic approach being implemented by Makilu and Minet”.
This comes amid an outcry as the government intends to register all students in the new healthcare system, the Social Health Authority (SHA).
Last week, the government announced that parents and guardians have 27 days to register their school-age children with SHA. The sign-up period concludes on February 28.
As part of the registration process, parents brought their children to school for registration. This will compel parents to make trips to the schools in order to fulfill the government’s plan.
