A fresh standoff is brewing between the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) and educators’ unions over the proposed migration of teachers’ medical cover from Minet Insurance to the Social Health Authority (SHA) scheme. The country’s two main teachers’ unions — the Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) and the Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) — have vowed to resist the transition until the government guarantees transparency, service quality, and clear benefits.
The TSC plans to shift more than 400,000 teachers and their dependents to the SHA scheme effective December 1, 2025, as part of the government’s universal healthcare reforms. However, union officials claim the process has been shrouded in secrecy and lacks meaningful consultation, putting the welfare of teachers at risk.
KNUT Secretary-General Collins Oyuu has warned that teachers will not accept a cover they do not understand. “Before December, we must be shown the full benefits, the hospital network, and guarantees that no teacher will be stranded in a health facility,” he said. “We cannot accept a cover we do not understand.”
Oyuu further criticized past experiences under Minet, pointing to slow approvals, lack of coordination, and delays in service delivery. He said that if SHA is to replace Minet, it must prove that teachers will receive “timely and dignified healthcare.”
KUPPET Secretary-General Akelo Misori echoed the same concerns, accusing the commission of violating the principles of public participation. He argued that no details have been shared regarding capitation levels, pre-authorization procedures, or coverage limits, leaving teachers uncertain about what awaits them under the new scheme.
Deputy Secretary-General Moses Nthurima added that their demands are non-negotiable. “Teachers must be allowed to access hospitals in their home counties and choose the facilities they prefer. The scheme must also include group life cover, which was missing under Minet,” he insisted.
Union officials have also raised fears that the new system could restrict teachers through referral pathways, forcing them to seek care in low-level dispensaries before accessing advanced hospitals. They argue this could delay critical treatment, particularly for teachers in remote areas.
Meanwhile, TSC maintains that the SHA plan is designed to expand access to over 9,000 health facilities nationwide, compared to the roughly 800 that currently serve teachers under Minet. The Commission insists that the scheme will enhance efficiency and lower costs in the long run.
But unions are unconvinced. “We will not be coerced into a medical cover that endangers our members’ lives,” said Misori. “Teachers deserve transparency, not trial and error with their health.”
The standoff highlights the growing tension between reform and reality in Kenya’s public healthcare system. As negotiations continue, teachers remain adamant — no transparency, no transition.
