National Government Reinstates EduAfya Medical Scheme Under UHC. The National Government has reinstated the EduAfya Medical Scheme as part of Universal Health Coverage (UHC) following appeals from education stakeholders. The Kenya Secondary School Heads Association (KESSHA) led calls for the programme’s continuation, emphasizing its importance. The scheme paid Ksh1,350 annually per student. After a Cabinet meeting chaired by President William Ruto at State House Nairobi, a statement was released confirming that EduAfya will now cover all school-going children. Previously, it had been limited to students in secondary schools. The National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF), now renamed the Social Health Insurance…
Author: Nyanchoka
Tensions Rise in KUPPET Ahead of National Governing Council Meeting. Tension is mounting as the Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) prepares for its upcoming National Governing Council (NGC) meeting scheduled for this Friday. Concerns have emerged over a petition submitted by some branch officials to union Secretary General Akelo Misori. The petition calls for action against branch leaders who opposed the abrupt end to the recent union strike. An internal memo, addressed to all branch Executive Secretaries—who are members of the NGC—was issued on September 18, 2024. The memo invited the officials to attend the meeting, set…
MPs Warn of Looming Crisis in Junior School Transition Due to Poor Planning. Members of Parliament convened an emergency session to address the government’s inadequate preparations for junior schools ahead of the transition of the pioneer class of the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC) to Grade 9 in January 2025. The session highlighted pressing issues, including insufficient infrastructure and teacher shortages, that are likely to impede learners’ progress. Key Challenges in Infrastructure and Staffing During the debate, which followed an adjournment motion sponsored by Kathiani MP Robert Mbui, lawmakers expressed concern over the lack of essential facilities such as classrooms and laboratories.…
KNUT Seeks Engagement on 2025–2029 CBA: Key Areas of Focus. The Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) has announced its intent to initiate discussions with the government regarding the upcoming 2025–2029 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA). The union emphasizes that this new CBA must focus on monetary aspects, unlike previous agreements. Following a meeting with teachers in Murkan, Narok County, Malel Langat, KNUT’s First National Vice Chair, confirmed the union’s readiness for negotiations. He stressed that the union is closely monitoring the implementation of the 2021/2024 CBA, which is currently in its second phase. Key Areas of Focus The union is…
Education in Crisis: Strikes and the Future of Kenya’s Children. In less than a month, two major strikes by teaching staff and a suspended one by students reflect a sector in turmoil. The unrest highlights the deep challenges facing the education system, as further demonstrated by Education Cabinet Secretary (CS) Julius Ogamba’s grilling in Parliament. His first appearance before members of the National Assembly since assuming office occurred against the backdrop of growing discontent. On Wednesday, Education CS Julius Ogamba faced tough questions about the state of education. Speaker of the National Assembly Moses Wetang’ula stressed the gravity of the…
Steps to Apply for the Jobs Secured by Ruto in Germany. Diaspora Affairs Principal Secretary, Roseline Njogu, shared important resources with Kenyans seeking job opportunities in Germany, as facilitated by President William Ruto’s negotiations. She spoke about several websites during an interview on KTN News on September 18, encouraging Kenyans to explore these platforms to align their career aspirations with available opportunities. Key Websites for Job Search Njogu highlighted make-it-in-germany.com, a website managed by the German government that offers numerous job opportunities. She emphasized its reliability as a platform for Kenyans to find career paths in Germany. The PS also…
Moi University Spends Ksh.29.8M on Gate Constuction. The administration of Moi University is under scrutiny following an audit report that revealed the institution spent Ksh.29.8 million on constructing its main gate. On Wednesday, September 18, Vice Chancellor Prof. Isaac Kosgey was questioned by the National Assembly’s Public Investments Committee on Education. He disclosed that the original budget for the gate had been set at Ksh4.8 million, but the plan was discarded due to the gate’s location on a road reserve. The committee members, led by Bumula MP Jack Wamboka, expressed concern over the revised project costs. They questioned how the…
Court Orders Striking Lecturers to Resume Work. On Wednesday, the Employment and Labour Relations Court directed lecturers currently on strike to return to their duties and resume teaching. The ruling was delivered after lecturers across various universities had earlier in the day ceased working following failed negotiations with the government. The strike threatened to disrupt learning at higher education institutions indefinitely. Justice Jacob Gakeri ruled on the matter following a legal appeal from the Inter-Public Universities’ Councils Forum, which sought to halt the strike. He categorized the case as urgent and urged both parties to continue negotiating to address the…
University Lecturers Go on Strike Over Unmet Government Demands. University lecturers from various institutions have initiated a strike after unsuccessful attempts to prevent it through negotiations between university dons and relevant stakeholders. The strike follows a collapse of discussions aimed at addressing the lecturers’ concerns, which left the academic staff unions—Universities Academic Staff Union (UASU) and the Kenya Universities Staff Union (KUSU)—with no choice but to act on their threat. Lecturers Mobilize for the Strike Lecturers across several universities officially started their strike after their unions called for industrial action due to the government’s failure to meet their demands. The…
Burial Plans Commence as All Hillside Endarasha Fire Victims After DNA Matching Families and relatives of the 21 students who tragically perished in the Hillside Endarasha Academy fire can now move forward with burial arrangements after government pathologist Dr. Johansen Oduor completed the DNA identification process. The victims had been burned beyond recognition during the dormitory fire on September 5, 2024. At the Naromoru Funeral Home on Wednesday, Dr. Oduor announced the conclusion of the DNA matching exercise. He reported that the process, which involved matching DNA samples from the victims with those of their relatives, had been successful. This…