By Kipkemboi Toroitich
A case in which Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) sought to oust KNUT from representation on the NHIF Board has been thrown out.
The case was before Justice Hedwig Ong’undi of the High Court, who ruled that the petition had been overtaken by events as the loophole allowing KNUT to sit on the NHIF Board had already been sealed, and there was no provision in law for further pursuit of the matter.
He, in addition, observed that the KNUT representative was due to vacate office in early May, effectively ending any teacher Union representation as the NHIF law had subsequently been amended to exclude the two giant Unions.
KUPPET had argued that it had agreed on mutual terms that the representation on the Board would be rotational. KNUT had ignored the gentleman’s agreement and went ahead to make a consecutive appointment of their own.
Unhappy with the corners KNUT had cut, KUPPET went to court to seek redress. However, it was at some point in the hearing that Justice Ong’undi saw the vanity of proceeding as the issues of legality and the termination of the KNUT representative from the Board arose, prompting him to summarily end the suit.
“Someone took advantage of a loophole in the NHIF law, which has since been amended,” summed Ong’undi.
