Teachers, through the Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET), have announced a nationwide strike beginning on March 3, 2025, should the government fail to address their grievances.
Addressing the press on Wednesday, February 26, KUPPET officials in Kisii County accused the government of failing to resolve the health crisis facing teachers across the country.
The officials, led by KUPPET Kisii Branch Chairperson Laban Ooko, revealed that thousands of teachers were unable to receive treatment at various hospitals due to inconsistencies in their medical insurance.
While venting frustrations over the teachers' medical scheme, Ooko called on all teachers across the country to halt learning activities from next week and come out to demand their rights.
"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.
"If, within the next week, the government does not release the funds required to safeguard the teachers of this country, we will down our tools and tell parents not to take their children to school since we will not be there," he added.
The KUPPET Chairperson also urged police officers to join teachers in demanding proper health insurance, noting that, like teachers, they faced the same challenge.
Laban further clarified that the demonstrations beginning on Monday would be strictly to demand better healthcare for teachers and not salary increments.
"It is shameful that the government has withheld money meant for workers' healthcare. It is also shameful that RUPHA has suspended services affecting Kenyans because the government has declined to release funds," Laban lamented.
"As KUPPET, the representatives of teachers in this country, we shall be calling for a special strike—not to push for salary increments, but to demand the safeguarding of Kenyans' healthcare," he added.
The ultimatum comes days after the Rural and Urban Private Hospitals Association of Kenya (RUPHA) announced the suspension of services in all private hospitals across the country over non-payment of pending health claims.
RUPHA which represents private hospitals including faith-based health facilities noted that the government's failure to settle Ksh30 billion in claims made it impossible for the hospitals to deliver services as required.
However, in a rebuttal, the Ministry of Health on Tuesday, February 25, dismissed RUPHA's claims that the government owes it Ksh30 billion stating that a consultative meeting was already held on Monday, February 24 to settle the matter.
"We wish to clarify that the Government does not owe RUPHA Kes 30 billion, as asserted. A consultative meeting was held on February 24, 2025, between the Ministry of Health and RUPHA leadership, where key resolutions were made to enhance service provision in RUPHA facilities," the Ministry of Health affirmed.
