Kenya’s education sector is on edge as teachers’ unions push back against the Teachers Service Commission’s (TSC) plan to migrate their members from Minet Insurance to the newly established Social Health Authority (SHA) medical scheme. The move, which is expected to take effect before the end of the year, has ignited a storm of opposition from educators who fear losing critical health benefits and being thrust into an uncertain healthcare future.
Unions Cry Foul Over “Secretive Transition”
Both the Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) and the Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) have accused the TSC of failing to consult them before deciding to terminate the existing Minet medical contract. They claim the government is rushing the migration without proper stakeholder engagement or an assessment of the potential impact on teachers’ welfare.
“This is not a transparent process. Teachers cannot be moved to a new medical scheme without being involved in the discussions,” said KUPPET Secretary-General Akello Misori. “We are talking about people’s lives and their families’ access to healthcare.”
KNUT officials echoed the same sentiments, warning that the SHA system could strip teachers of some of the privileges they have enjoyed for years — including comprehensive outpatient, maternity, and specialized care coverage.
What Teachers Stand to Lose
Under the Minet Kenya medical scheme, teachers currently access a wide network of private and mission hospitals across the country. The plan offers reliable outpatient services, emergency care, maternity cover, and even mental health support — benefits that teachers say have greatly improved their quality of life.
Many teachers fear that SHA, being a new and untested model, may not replicate this efficiency. “Minet has been there for us. It works. We get treated without delays,” said a teacher from Nyeri. “We don’t know how SHA will handle such a large group of people.”
Unions are particularly worried that SHA may adopt bureaucratic procedures similar to those of the defunct National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF), which was notorious for delayed claims and limited hospital coverage.
SHA’s Broad Mandate Raises Concerns
The Social Health Authority is designed to manage Kenya’s new universal health insurance system under the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF). Its goal is to ensure all Kenyans — regardless of income — can access quality healthcare without facing financial ruin.
However, unions argue that merging all public servants under one state-controlled system could dilute the quality of care. “Teachers have unique needs,” said KNUT’s acting chairman. “A one-size-fits-all model might not work. The TSC should have negotiated a customized package for educators.”
Analysts also warn that the SHA’s wide mandate — covering millions of citizens — could strain its resources and delay service delivery, especially if the system is not well funded and digitized.
Fear of Political Interference
Some union officials believe that the SHA rollout is being driven more by political motives than genuine reform. They claim that the government is eager to demonstrate progress on its universal healthcare agenda, even if it means sacrificing efficiency in the short term.
“The SHA idea sounds good on paper, but implementing it without proper structures could be disastrous,” said a senior KUPPET official. “We have seen how political programs in health fail because of rushed timelines and poor coordination.”
Call for TSC to Renegotiate With Minet
Unions are now calling on TSC to renew or extend the current Minet contract while consultations on SHA continue. They insist that any transition should be gradual and based on pilot testing rather than abrupt implementation.
“Teachers should not be used as guinea pigs,” Misori emphasized. “Let SHA prove its capacity first before taking over from Minet. Our members deserve stability and reliable medical access.”
Teachers have also urged the government to ensure that the new system provides equal or better benefits than the existing one. “We support reforms, but they must not come at the expense of our members’ health and dignity,” said KNUT Secretary-General Collins Oyuu.
What Lies Ahead
With only weeks remaining before Minet’s contract expires, tensions are escalating. If TSC proceeds without addressing union concerns, a major standoff could erupt, potentially leading to industrial action. Education experts warn that this could disrupt schools and further strain relations between the government and the teaching workforce.
The controversy underscores a deeper issue — the delicate balance between reform and readiness. While universal health coverage remains a noble goal, teachers insist that execution must be transparent, inclusive, and carefully planned.
For now, the ball is in TSC’s court. Whether it chooses to dialogue with unions or push ahead with the SHA migration will determine the next chapter in Kenya’s evolving education and healthcare story.
