Newly effected National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) regulations continue to elicit mixed reactions from different factions.
On Sunday, the Central Organization of Trade Unions (COTU) opposed the implementation of the new rules.
The Francis Atwoli-led union said that the rules are punitive to the low-income earners, adding that they should be scrapped off with immediate effect failure to which the members will take unspecified action.
Speaking to journalists in Nairobi, COTU Deputy Secretary-General Benson Okwaro said that the rules will punish Kenyans instead of benefitting them.
Okwaro asked NHIF team to revise the rules before proceeding with their implementation.“
"In COTU’s view, the changes are punitive, retrogressive, irresponsible and being pushed by individuals hell-bent on suffocating the smooth operations at NHIF and at the same time aimed at frustrating workers who religiously contribute to the fund,” he said, as quoted by Capital FM.
He also faulted NHIF leadership for what he termed as mismanagement of its affairs following the decision to set the new rules.
Among the new rules is that the NHIF cover will only benefit one wife and five children, irrespective of how many wives the contributor has and also a requirement that new members must make contributions for six consecutive months before they start benefiting.