50 Billion Health Insurance; Omtatah Threatens to sue TSC

Post by : Ann Njambuya

The teachers Service Commission has received a stern warning from Busia Senator Okiya Omtatah. The Fierce activist turned politician has threatened to sue the Teachers employer over a health insurance tender that has been advertised. According to the senator the employer has issued out outrageous conditions that will seeks to lock out other viable providers. He says that the TSC is doing this i n order to favour Minet insurance.

Minet Insurance has been offering health insurance to teachers since 2019. according to Omtatah, TSC is seeking to extend their contract illegally by advertising rigorous requirements that go against the public procurement act. Currently the Health insurance scheme is valued at 32.5 billion but is expected to shoot up to 50 billion if the government recruits additional teachers.

During the campaign period, The president had promised to employ over 116,000 teachers in a span of one to two years. If he implements this proposal, then the scheme will attain the 50 billion mark.

Demands;Tender Cancellation

The senator now demands that the Teachers Service Commission cancel the tender. He says that if that doesn’t happen he will have to seek legal redress. He plans to file a complaint with the EACC, the Public Procurement Regulatory Authority and parliament.Senator Okiya also indicates that he will seek an audience with the High Court of Kenya in a bid to prevent wastage of public funds.

Busia Senator Okiya Omtatah. The senator has vowed to sue the Teachers service commission if they don't cancel a recent tender they floated. he claims that the commission is favouring Minet Insurance. — Busia Senator Okiya Omtatah. The senator has vowed to sue the Teachers service commission if they don’t cancel a recent tender they floated. he claims that the commission is favouring Minet Insurance.

Among the main issues raised by the senator include the Minimum security deposit of Kshs 300 million. the senator says that this contravenes the Constitution of Kenya as the the law caps the security deposit at 250 million shillings. This is one of the mandatory requirements. Another requirement that he doesn’t agree with is the provision of a gross premium of 5 billion. Okiya says that only Minet can be able to raise the said amount.

“Although a procuring entity has the right to set its own minimum standards for potential bidders, both the constitution and the Kenya’s public procurement laws doesn’t allow public officials to collude with potential bidders,” he said.

“Since the law protects the public from corporate capture, government institutions must provide an environment where the public can get value for money,” Omtatah added.

TSC is currently floating the tender that will cover 3 years from 2022-2025.