Govt: We will not suspend new NHIF rates

Govt: We will not suspend new NHIF rates

The government has vowed not to suspend the newly gazetted National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF) rate, stating that the suspension will negatively affect ordinary Kenyans who are already benefiting from the scheme.

Speaking after meeting the Trade Union Council of Kenya, acting Cabinet Secretary for Labour, Raychelle Omamo, intimated that both parties involved would be engaged through dialogue to settle the issue, adding that matter is still in court.

On their part, the Trade Union Council of Kenya led by their Secretary General Wilson Sossion and his deputy Charles Mukhaya asserted that a failure to suspend the new rates by Thursday will lead to a strike.

Last week, the Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) threatened to move to the industrial court to stop the government from deducting teachers the new NHIF rates.

In a protest letter to the acting Labour Cabinet Secretary Raychelle Omamo, KNUT Secretary General Wilson Sossion demanded that the government refunds teaches the deducted rates from April.

Sossion further affirmed the giant teachers’ union position that it objected to the introduction of the new rates and instead urged the government to take into consideration proposals from stakeholders.

The new premium rates saw formal sector workers pay higher contributions as of April 1 with individuals earning Sh5,999 and below contributing Sh150 while those earning Sh100,000 and above paying  Sh1,700.

Most formal workers have been paying Sh320 per month since 1988 when the rates were last reviewed.

 

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kenya Raychelle Omamo NHIF Nairobi government Kenyans

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