KUPPET Demands Immediate Release of Ksh.11B Teachers’ Medical Funds.
The Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET ) reported that over Sh11 billion remains unpaid to service providers, causing health facilities to deny teachers medical care.
Officials from KUPPET criticized the government’s inefficiencies, insisting that teachers should not bear the consequences of these failures. They warned that more hospitals could opt out of the scheme, leaving thousands of teachers without health insurance.
Kuppet officials demanded that the Treasury release medical capitation funds immediately to ensure teachers receive healthcare services.
They noted that the last disbursement occurred in September, following an agreement between KUPPET and the commission to end the August-September 2024 strike.
This industrial action had been prompted by budget cuts affecting the medical scheme and hospitals withdrawing services due to persistent payment delays.
During a press briefing at the union’s headquarters in Nairobi, KUPPET Deputy Secretary-General Moses Nthurima voiced concern over the government’s failure to remit funds earmarked for teachers’ medical services.
He pointed out that the ongoing delays in payments have led hospitals to refuse treatment or demand out-of-pocket payments from teachers, as the medical underwriter, Medical Administrators Kenya Limited, has not received the necessary funds.
Some hospitals have ceased treating teachers altogether, forcing them to seek care at pharmacies and chemists.
“There is a threat because whenever teachers attend hospitals, there are all manner of reasons given by service providers. Sometimes they are delayed from getting services, and other hospitals have already written that they are not serving teachers,” said Nthurima .
Nthurima emphasized that teachers’ health is a priority, warning that denying them medical care violates their right to healthcare and human dignity. He also stressed that a teacher’s well-being directly impacts productivity in the classroom.
Teachers Medical Allowances Eliminated
Medical allowances for teachers were eliminated in 2015 when the government introduced a medical scheme managed by a consortium of insurance companies, with Minet Kenya Insurance Brokers leading the initiative.
Teachers contribute up to Sh3,000 monthly through salary deductions to fund the scheme. However, delays in disbursement have led to inefficiencies in service provision.
The union strongly criticized these delays, arguing that withholding capitation funds is equivalent to withholding teachers’ salaries. Kuppet urged the government to ensure uninterrupted medical services so that teachers could focus on their duties.
Additionally, KUPPET raised concerns regarding the quality of services provided by Minet, stating that some of the best hospitals available to teachers have been reclassified as referral centers, thereby limiting their access to quality healthcare.
The union urged Minet to stop this practice, arguing that teachers are now forced to seek treatment in dispensaries and substandard hospitals.
The union also reported receiving complaints from teachers across the country about service delays, denial of care, and poor treatment by medical providers.
It stressed that the ongoing crisis has resulted in teacher fatalities and demanded that Minet take the issue seriously while the government ensures immediate fund disbursement.
On February 5, 2025, Minet released a statement announcing that, following consultations with the Teachers Service Commission (TSC), 17 hospitals across the country had been designated as referral facilities.
The statement explained that minor adjustments had been made to the scheme’s medical service providers to enhance referral management and improve access to specialized care nationwide
Read Also: KUPPET: Only Ksh.4K Per Student Disbursed, Schools in Crisis
KUPPET National Secretary Edward Obwocha urged Minet to prioritize teachers’ medical coverage and cease the practice of converting reputable hospitals into referral-only facilities, as it restricted teachers’ access to essential services.
School heads warned that delays in capitation disbursements were leading to mounting unpaid bills, further straining school operations.
KUPPET Demands Immediate Release of Ksh.11B Teachers’ Medical Funds
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