News
Cotu in strike threat over new NHIF rates
Cotu Secretary General Francis Atwoli addresses a domestic workers forum in Nairobi on Wednesday. He alleged that politicians planned to use the NHIF to fund their campaigns in 2012. Photo/DENNIS OKEYO.
Posted Wednesday, September 8 2010 at 22:31
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.
-
Submitted by ThomasMusyokiMutuse1Posted September 09, 2010 12:46 PM
-
Submitted by kingmswati
The principle behind the scheme is very noble. However NHIF should not involve themselves in other businesses i.e real-estate and equity .It is a well-known fact that colossal amounts from tax-payers have been lost in these kind of investments - what are they doing to recover the funds?..then again the Minister is just too arrogant to listen to other parties' arguments. Kenyans should hear out the COTU boss, he has a strong argument.
Posted September 09, 2010 10:51 AM -
Submitted by vintokim
Bro.atwoli is very right it is the responsibility of any sane gorvement to provide health care to its citizens.Kenyans are paying a huge sum on taxes every time and i thought that is what the tax is supposed to do. I am also not ready to pay that huge increment on NHIF and the minister should stop being arrogant and listen to the elected workers representatives.Atwoli keep up the fight and all kenyan workers and taxpayers are with you.
Posted September 09, 2010 09:41 AM -
Submitted by kyrgitt
Mambono... just because some of us think Atwoli is being irrational on this matter , doesn’t mean that we don’t contribute to NHIF...as Ounzarj said, its absurd and bordering on impunity for COTUi to seek redress, and pre-empt the verdict and declaring to disrespect the verdict... we need to stop "civilian impunity" by respecting our institutions of government, so that we may have the moral authority to hold them accountable to us....if the courts doesn't go his way, then he should appeal, if he loses the appeal, then he should live with it; justice doesn't equate popularity.
Posted September 09, 2010 09:38 AM -
Submitted by okamala
My only problem with the new peoposal is that its not being applied equitably, let the government apply a flat percentage rate to all catedories. Its not fair for one earning 5k paying Shs 150 and another with 800k paying 2k; this is what Atwoli should addressing.
Posted September 09, 2010 09:26 AM
RSS
Kenyans are not ready to be fleeced at any opportune moment however the scheme is one of the best, let whatever is charged be demand driven,not calculated theft by servant.