KUPPET Announces Strike Over Teachers’ Healthcare Crisis.
The Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) has declared that teachers will stage a nationwide strike from March 3, 2025, if the government does not address their healthcare concerns.
Speaking at a press briefing on Wednesday, February 26, KUPPET representatives in Kisii County accused the government of neglecting the worsening health crisis affecting educators across the country.
Led by Kisii Branch Chairperson Laban Ooko, the officials disclosed that numerous teachers had been unable to access medical treatment due to inconsistencies in their health insurance coverage.
Expressing deep dissatisfaction with the state of the teachers’ medical scheme, Ooko urged educators nationwide to suspend learning activities and mobilize in protest for their rights.
He emphasized that the government should allocate approximately Ksh30 billion to finance health insurance for both teachers and police officers.
“The government should be disbursing about Ksh30 billion to cater for the health insurance of all teachers and police officers. So, as teachers of Kenya, we are putting the government on notice,” Laban said.
He warned that teachers were prepared to take drastic action, stating that if the required funds were not disbursed within a week, they would withdraw their services and advise parents to keep their children at home.
Call for Unity Among Educators and Law Enforcement
Ooko also called on police officers to join teachers in their advocacy for improved healthcare provisions, noting that they faced similar challenges. He clarified that the planned demonstrations were solely focused on demanding better healthcare services and not on requesting salary increases.
Expressing further dissatisfaction, he criticized the government for withholding funds meant for workers’ medical needs.
He also condemned the Rural and Urban Private Hospitals Association of Kenya (RUPHA) for suspending services, arguing that the government’s failure to release funds had directly affected Kenyans.
“As representatives of teachers, KUPPET will push for a special strike—not to demand higher wages, but to ensure the protection of workers’ healthcare rights,” he asserted.
The strike ultimatum follows RUPHA’s announcement that private hospitals, including faith-based institutions, would halt services due to the government’s failure to settle outstanding health claims amounting to Ksh30 billion.
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RUPHA stated that without these payments, private hospitals were unable to continue offering services as expected. However, the Ministry of Health, in response on Tuesday, February 25, refuted these claims, insisting that the government did not owe RUPHA Ksh30 billion.
The ministry clarified that a consultative meeting had been held on Monday, February 24, between health officials and RUPHA’s leadership, during which crucial resolutions were made to improve service provision in private hospitals.
KUPPET Announces Strike Over Teachers’ Healthcare Crisis
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