KUPPET Storms Minet Office as KNUT Appeals for Better Services

KUPPET Storms Minet Office as KNUT Appeals for Improved Healthcare Services

On Tuesday, a dramatic scene unfolded at the Minet Insurance Company office in Kakamega Town as angry teachers from the Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) stormed the premises and locked the doors.

Led by Harrison Otota, the Kakamega KUPPET Branch Executive Secretary, they accused the insurance broker of negligence, blaming it for the deaths of two of their colleagues.

According to Otota, the deaths occurred due to the unavailability of prescribed medications at local hospitals accredited by Minet.

“We buried two teachers last week,” he reported, citing one who suffered from bipolar disorder and another who couldn’t receive insulin injections due to Minet’s failure to approve treatment.

Johnston Wabuti, KUPPET Kakamega Branch Chairman, expressed frustration with the situation, emphasizing that they have demanded the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) withdraw medical insurance services from Minet.

He criticized Minet for what he described as negligence and incompetence in handling medical treatments for teachers. Wabuti urged TSC to enroll all Kakamega teachers with the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) instead, to avoid such tragic incidents.

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“We cannot tolerate teachers dying because essential services like medication are unavailable,” Wabuti stated firmly. He highlighted the teachers’ preference for a comprehensive medical cover over Minet’s current services. Despite previous discussions with the company on areas needing improvement, Wabuti noted that no meaningful changes had been implemented.

The officials at Minet promised to provide details to journalists, but as of press time, they had not responded to the allegations or demands from KUPPET.

The standoff underscores the urgent need for resolution, as teachers continue to face life-threatening consequences due to perceived inadequacies in their health insurance coverage.

KNUT’s Appeal for Improved Healthcare Services

The Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) Nakuru Branch has emphasized the critical need for Minet Health Care Plan to consistently deliver high-quality healthcare services to teachers in Nakuru County. During the recent Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signing between the Nakuru County Government and Minet Health Care Plan at the county offices, KNUT’s branch Executive Secretary, Anthony Geoche, highlighted the importance of addressing existing challenges within the scheme. Geoche stressed the significance of ensuring teachers receive adequate healthcare support to enhance their effectiveness in schools.

Geoche acknowledged that while teachers play a crucial role in society, there have been challenges with the current healthcare services provided by Minet Health Care Plan. He urged Minet to enhance their services to meet the needs of teachers effectively.

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Nakuru County’s Executive Committee Member of Health, Roselyn Mungai, reiterated the government’s commitment to ensuring that all teachers and their beneficiaries receive top-notch healthcare services. Mungai affirmed the county’s dedication to supporting the well-being of teachers through improved healthcare provisions.