The Lower Eastern Times Opening The Third Eye
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Junior school teachers have warned they may disrupt the start of the second term on April 27, piling pressure on the government over employment terms, medical cover, and delays in confirming their jobs.
Through officials of the Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (Kuppet), the educators say they will go on strike unless they are placed on permanent and pensionable terms and provided with a more comprehensive health insurance scheme.
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They argue that the current cover under the Social Health Authority (SHA) is insufficient, leaving many to pay for treatment out of pocket.
Union representative James Njembio said teachers are frustrated with the situation, claiming they are often asked to top up medical bills or are turned away due to system failures.
The strike threat comes shortly after Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale dismissed claims about limited daily medical cover, attributing the reports to remarks by former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua.
Duale maintained that the National Hospital Insurance Fund Mwalimu scheme remains one of the most comprehensive in the public sector, offering inpatient cover of between Sh1 million and Sh3 million, outpatient cover of up to Sh450,000, and access to thousands of health facilities nationwide.
Despite these assurances, teachers say many hospitals still demand additional payments, highlighting gaps in service delivery.
Tensions have also been heightened by unresolved employment issues, including the delayed confirmation of 44,000 intern teachers and concerns over slow recruitment by the Teachers Service Commission.
A recent ruling by the Court of Appeal of Kenya on February 27 declared the internship programme unconstitutional and exploitative, ordering that affected teachers be transitioned to permanent and pensionable terms.
The interns, who were earning a monthly stipend of Sh20,000, say they are overworked and underpaid. According to Yvonne Gitonga, some unskilled workers earn more than qualified graduate teachers, further fuelling dissatisfaction.
In addition to pay and healthcare concerns, the teachers are also demanding greater administrative independence from primary schools, arguing that the current structure undermines their professional status.
If the strike proceeds, it could disrupt the reopening of schools for the second term, leaving learners returning from the April holidays facing a stalled academic calendar.
