Embu Teachers Serve Seven-Day Strike Notice Regarding Medical Cover

Teachers in Embu County, Kenya, have issued a seven-day strike notice to the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) due to non-remittance of their medical cover deductions. This failure has led to significant disruptions in healthcare services for the affected teachers and their dependents, causing frustration and concern among many.

For the past nine months, TSC has failed to remit monthly deductions towards teachers’ health insurance to AON Minet. Consequently, most teachers, who make up the majority, are either denied medical services altogether or receive substandard care at hospitals contracted by the insurer. Many teachers have been compelled to bear additional financial burdens, resorting to fundraisers to cover medical expenses, particularly for serious or terminal illnesses.

Jacob Karura, the secretary general of KUPPET Embu branch, highlighted these issues during a press briefing in Embu town. Despite numerous complaints lodged with TSC, no resolution has been forthcoming. Karura emphasized, “If no action is taken within the next seven days, we will be left with no option but to call upon our members to initiate a strike.”

Eric Kimwere, another KUPPET official, pointed out that this situation is specific to Embu County, expressing the widespread frustration among teachers. “We are sick, tired, and fed up with constantly being turned away from hospitals,” he lamented. Kimwere cited delays in the pre-authorization process at hospitals, where treatment approvals can take up to 24 hours, exacerbating the challenges faced by teachers seeking medical care.

The non-remittance of funds has created significant barriers to healthcare access for teachers. In addition to denial of medical services, delays in treatment approvals have further complicated matters. Kimwere noted instances where healthcare facilities only attend to one member of a household, leaving others covered under the medical scheme without necessary healthcare attention.