Today's Headlines
- Lessons and Implications of the Confirmation of Charges Against Kenya's 'Ocampo Four'
- Finance Minister Quits Over ICC Charges
- Shortage of HIV Test Kits Raises Concerns
- Living On the Edge in Turkana Region
- Ali Breaks Silence, Describes Delight At Acquittal
- Uhuru, Ruto Eligible for Presidency - CIC
- Tea Sector Posts Record Earnings in 2011
- Resettle IDPs, Urges Annan
- Uhuru, Muthaura Have Done the Right Thing
- All Displaced People Should Return Home
- Concern Raised As Parents Shun Schools in Poll Violence Hotspots
- Ruling On IEBC Hiring in February
- Country Working Towards Conditions Needed for Direct Flights to U.S.
- How ICC Claimed Kibaki's Lieutenants
- Geothermal Project to Receive Sh10 Billion Funding Boost
- Five Million to Get IDs Before Elections
- Speed Up Building Port
- Uhuru and Muthaura Did Well to Quit Posts
- A Full Plate Awaits Githae
- Clashes Continue in Moyale
- Baraza Case to Be Heard Monday
- Two Firms in Joint Venture to Drill for Oil Near Lodwar
- Exit Uhuru, Muthaura
- ICC Charges Hound Uhuru Out of Treasury
- Consumers Grow Despite Inflation
- Poor Relations Between Banks Blamed for Cash Shortages
- Fish Prices Up As Vegetable Supply Dwindles
- Consumers to Pay More for Milk and Bread As Prices Rise
- Kibaki Tasks Ex-Dar CJ to Lead Probe in Kenya
- Mombasa Port Cargo Congestion Forces Three-Month Fees Waiver
Walter Menya
8 September 2010
Nairobi — Employers have been told to brace themselves for a national workers' strike should the National Hospital Insurance Fund be allowed to implement the proposed increase in contributions.
Cotu, the umbrella workers' body, on Wednesday put the employers on notice, claiming that the Fund managers wanted to defraud workers of their meagre hard-earned wages.
Speaking at a workers' workshop in Nairobi on Wednesday, Cotu secretary-general Francis Atwoli alleged that politicians planned to use the NHIF to fund their campaigns in 2012, hence the proposed increase in contributions.
"The new Constitution clearly states that provision of healthcare is the responsibility of the government.
The workers of this country will not shoulder a burden which does not belong to them," he said, adding that it was wrong for NHIF and the Medical Services minister, Prof Anyang' Nyong'o, to budget with workers' money without prior consultation.
"I am saying in no uncertain terms that if the court decides in favour of NHIF, workers will not accept the verdict and will go on strike," the Cotu boss said.
Cotu went to court and obtained temporary orders blocking the implementation of the new scheme.
Mr Atwoli also reiterated that NHIF lacked the capacity to handle the Sh10 billion that the proposed scheme is expected to raise annually.
Raised objections to the scheme
The Fund currently collects Sh5 billion annually. "This proposal points to a scenario where NHIF is being used by some people to get money for 2012."
The parliamentary departmental committee on health on Tuesday also objected to the proposed scheme when they grilled NHIF head Richard Kerich. The Federation of Kenya Employers has also rejected the proposed scheme.
According to the Cotu boss, the stalemate can only be solved through a tripartite meeting of the government, workers and employers. The NHIF maintains that the proposed scheme is in line with practices in other countries.
