Cotu in strike threat over new NHIF rates

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.