Just hours after top officials of teachers’ unions signed a deal with the government to migrate medical insurance cover for over 400,000 teachers to the Social Health Authority, a section of teachers have expressed displeasure at the deal, citing lack of public participation.
The migration from the current medical insurance cover provided by a consortium led by Minet Kenya Ltd will take effect on December 1, 2025. It was announced when union leaders from the Kenya National Union of Teachers (Knut), Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (Kuppet), and Kenya Union of Special Needs Education Teachers (Kusnet) met senior officials of the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) and SHA in Nairobi.
They said the SHA benefits eased the earlier apprehension among teachers, who feared being lumped together with the general public.
However, head teachers attending the Kenya Primary School Heads Association (Kepsha) Annual Delegates Conference in Mombasa protested migration of their medical cover from Minet, saying it was done without their consent. They accused the unions of endorsing the transition without proper consultation or sensitisation.
Some of them walked out of the hall once word spread that the unions had formally agreed to the migration following an agreement with the TSC.
“We were not involved in this transition. How can something this important be signed behind our backs?” a visibly agitated delegate said, amid murmurs of discontent at the Sheikh Zayed Hall in Mombasa.
Teachers Service Commission Acting CEO Evaleen Mitei.
Photo credit: File | Nation
The head teachers warned of a backlash in the upcoming union elections, threatening to vote out officials who, they said, had “betrayed” their trust. Knut officials are expected to address the conference on Thursday, while the acting CEO of the TSC Evaleen Mitei is expected today.
“There are many gaps that have not been addressed by SHA. Some diagnostic tests are not fully covered, and others have restrictive limits,” said Mr Tobias Obuogo, the head teacher of Ugina Primary School in Homa Bay County.
He said the State should have piloted the scheme first before full roll-out. Sarah Mhonja of Zimbalo Primary School in Vihiga County said most teachers were in the dark about the new scheme.
“The unions and associations should come to the grassroots and explain to us what SHA offers. So far, we don’t understand it. They should tell us how it will work, especially the comprehensive cover for our families,” she said.
A Kepsha official from Homa Bay, Mr Moses Kadienge, added that the process appeared rushed and opaque.
“We hear that the agreement has already been signed in Nairobi. They should have waited to test the system before committing. There’s too much haste and too little clarity,” said the Ramba Comprehensive School head teacher.
“SHA has depleted my pay slip. SHA has challenges,” he lamented.
The teachers said that President William Ruto had promised them an improved medical cover and not a compulsory transition.
“We are not against reforms, but the process must be inclusive,” said another delegate. “Teachers have families and chronic conditions. This abrupt shift puts all that at risk.”
SHA, which replaces the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF), is part of the government’s Universal Health Coverage (UHC) plan, promising comprehensive health services for all Kenyans. But teachers say its implementation has been hurried and lacks transparency.
“Given that SHA’s funds are reportedly not yet stable, why is TSC rushing this transition? What measures are in place to ensure teachers don’t lose access to medical care?” they asked.
The educators further demanded guarantees that their contributions would be ring-fenced and not diverted to other public health programmes. They also sought clarity on communication mechanisms and how the transition’s success will be monitored.
Basic Education Principal Secretary Julius Bitok.
Photo credit: File| Nation Media Group
Basic Education Principal Secretary Prof Julius Bitok, who was expected to address the delegates and clarify the government’s position, did not attend yesterday’s meeting. “We were waiting for him to explain why the State has short-changed us,” one teacher said.
In Nairobi, the TSC boss tried to explain why the teachers will get a better deal under SHA than under the Minet-led consortium.
“We are working towards a smooth shift for all our teachers, and we are happy that our SHA partners have given valuable input,” said Ms Mitei.
The transition follows the enactment of regulations under the Public Officers Medical Scheme Fund (POMSF), which formally mandates SHA to manage teachers’ healthcare benefits. This marks a legal and administrative shift from a privately-managed insurance model to a government-administered fund.
Unlike the Minet arrangement, which operated as a commercial insurance plan, the new model is fee-for-service, where teachers will directly access care and have costs settled from their individual limits.
Under the new arrangement, teachers and their immediate families will receive comprehensive coverage that caters to the principal member, a spouse, and up to five children. Those with more dependants will be guided on how to add extra members, at a personal cost. Dependants with disabilities will be covered regardless of age, and those in full-time study will remain eligible up to the age of 25.
Under the SHA cover, teachers will get expanded access to healthcare, from about 800 hospitals (under Minet) to more than 9,600 across the country. The network includes public, private, and faith-based facilities ranging from Level 2 to Level 6 hospitals. The new system also automates admissions and discharges, doing away with manual approvals.
SHA Chief Executive Officer Dr Mercy Mwangangi.
Photo credit: File | Nation Media Group
“So we will actually have an expanded network of providers. This will be much improved from the current offering that Minet has,” said SHA CEO Mercy Mwangangi.
The benefits also include overseas treatment for conditions that cannot be handled locally. The package covers air travel, accommodation, and medical escorts for patients and companions. Teachers on official duty outside the country for up to six weeks will qualify for travel insurance, which includes medical cover abroad.
“It is now official that teachers' medical cover will now be comprehensively undertaken by SHA. This is a comprehensive cover exclusively for teachers, extending beyond treatment in dispensaries to include overseas care, air travel, and access to specialised personnel for the sick. It is a scheme that many of our teachers will truly appreciate,” said Kuppet secretary-general Akello Misori.
According to the benefits package, SHA will cover outpatient and inpatient care, maternity and reproductive health, dental and optical services, oncology and renal treatment, physiotherapy, and rehabilitation for drug and substance abuse. It also includes an annual medical check-up for teachers and their spouses, which covers a full physical examination and key tests for blood pressure, sugar levels, cancer, liver and kidney function, and heart health.
Further, the emergency evacuation by road and air, funeral benefits for teachers, and coverage for specialised treatment such as dialysis, chemotherapy, and transplants are also included.
Knut Secretary-General Collins Oyuu.
Photo credit: File | Nation Media Group
“Looking at the presentation we received today, the key factor is that this scheme will significantly improve on what we had earlier. The additional benefits were clearly addressed, and we want to ensure that this remains a comprehensive cover for teachers, not for everyone, as some perceptions suggest. We are also keen to manage any shortfalls to make sure things work well,” said Knut Secretary-General, Collins Oyuu.
The scheme includes governance structures at regional, county, and national levels, ensuring accountability and efficient management.
