Kenya National Union of Teachers officials, led by deputy secretary general Hesbon Otieno (centre), address the media in Litein, Kericho County on June 7, 2025.
At least 400,000 teachers across the country will on Monday December 1 be enrolled into a new Social Health Authority (SHA)-administered medical scheme as the government officially rolls out the Mwalimu Comprehensive Medical Cover, ending the previous arrangement under Minet.
The new scheme, implemented by the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) through the Public Officers Medical Scheme Fund (POMSF), will take effect from December 1 following the full handover of operations and systems from Minet to SHA.
This transition will proceed as planned despite a case filed in court by two teachers, with no court orders issued to stop the rollout. The matter is scheduled for hearing on December 10, several days after the SHA rollout begins.
With just hours before the official rollout, teacher’ unions Nation spoke to cited the 30-day termination notice available in the scheme should the SHA-administered cover prove unsatisfactory.
The unions now say that the clause, while it does not amount to a trial period for individual teachers, serves as “a safeguard mechanism for the unions to monitor service delivery, hospital access, claims processing and overall reliability of the scheme, and to formally trigger an exit if standards are not met.”
“The teachers are aware that they will be moving to a new scheme starting Monday. We suggested that exit clauses be included to allow either party to act quickly if needed. Teachers should not be worried about the new scheme—they cannot be concerned about something they have not yet experienced. We urge them to remain calm, observe, and wait,” said Hesbon Otieno, Deputy Secretary-General of the Kenya National Union of Teachers (Knut).
Head Teachers give their views regarding the medical insurance shift from Minet to Social Health Authority (SHA) during the Kenya Primary Schools Head Teachers Association conference at Sheikh Zayed Hall in Mombasa on November 10, 2025.
Mr Otieno said the unions will by May 2026 provide fresh recommendations on what needs to be adjusted in the scheme after a six-month period.
“We have given ourselves six months to consult with our members. We are engaging with teachers from across the country to keep a close watch and ensure their interests are represented,” Mr Otieno added.
Since last week, teachers across the country have been receiving messages from SHA notifying them of their enrollment into the new Comprehensive Mwalimu Medical Cover.
Comprehensive coverage for teachers
"Dear Teachers, SHA welcomes you to the new Comprehensive Mwalimu Medical Cover. Please confirm and/or update your dependents in 147# or afyayangu.go.ke. The Medical will be active Effective 1st/12/2025."
Among the benefits of the new SHA medical cover for teachers are comprehensive coverage for teachers and their immediate families, including a spouse and up to five children.
Teachers with more than five children will be advised on how to manage additional coverage. The scheme is designed exclusively for teachers, ensuring it is not lumped together with other public servants and tailored to meet their specific needs.
The new SHA cover expands access to healthcare facilities from 800 to 9,600 nationwide, covering level two to level six hospitals across public, private, and faith-based sectors. Teachers will also benefit from overseas treatment coverage, including air travel and access to specialized medical personnel for conditions that cannot be treated locally.
Mr Moses Nthurima, Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (Kuppet) Deputy Secretary-General, said the unions had given the government the benefit of doubt in the SHA deal.
Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers Deputy Secretary-General Moses Nthurima.
“Anything new has faced resistance for change because currently teachers are worried that you cannot trust anything that the government is offering considering that SHA itself has its shortfalls. We assure members that this scheme has a very clear cancellation clause that calls for a notice to be given within 30 days. I think I'm right. And then, cancellation can come in three months. So let us not get worried. Our duty as representatives of teachers is to look into it that the best is provided for our teachers. The worry that follows about how this will be managed,” said Mr Nthurima.
Further, the scheme will also include the Management of chronic conditions which has been simplified, allowing teachers to access private sector care without pre-qualification. Turnaround times for approvals and claims have been improved, addressing delays and prioritization issues that affected the previous scheme. Dedicated officers will be available to support teachers during the transition, ensuring a seamless shift to the new cover.
The POMSF sets medical limits based on job groups.
Job Group B (5,233 teachers) will have unlimited inpatient and outpatient cover with others covered including dental (Sh45, 000), optical (Sh60, 000) and maternity (Sh120, 000). There is also Sh300, 000 funeral expenses; and Sh2 million international treatment plus Sh200, 000 travel.
Teachers from various schools across Nairobi attend the World Teachers' Day celebrations at Kenya Science Campus on October 5, 2025.
Job groups C1 (112,165 teachers) to C5 (28,036 teachers) retain unlimited outpatient and inpatient cover for the lower C groups, rising to Sh1.5–Sh1.8 million limits for higher C groups.
All enjoy standard benefits including dental, optical, maternity, evacuation and funeral allowances, and international treatment where provided.
Highest coverage limits
Job groups D1 (8,183 teachers) to D5 (428 teachers) enjoy the highest coverage limits, ranging from Sh2 million in D1 to Sh3 million in D5.
Among the benefits of the new SHA medical scheme are comprehensive coverage for teachers and their immediate families, including a spouse and up to five children.
Teachers with more than five children will be advised on how to manage additional coverage. The scheme is designed exclusively for teachers, ensuring it is not lumped together with other public servants.
