Behind the scenes of Kenya’s education sector turmoil lies a high-stakes negotiation that has left teachers, unions, and healthcare providers at loggerheads with the government. The decision to migrate all teachers from Minet Insurance to the new Social Health Authority (SHA) medical scheme is said to have been sealed at a confidential State House meeting in mid-September — a move now sparking national debate.
The Meeting That Changed Everything
According to sources within the education sector, senior officials from the Teachers Service Commission (TSC), the Ministry of Health, and top union representatives were summoned to State House for a consultative session on teacher welfare and healthcare reforms. President William Ruto is said to have emphasized the need for all public servants — including teachers and police — to be integrated into the government’s new universal health program managed by SHA.
The meeting, held under tight secrecy, reportedly ended with an understanding that the transition from private insurers like Minet to SHA would be completed before the end of the year. However, while government officials hailed it as a step toward equity and national cohesion, teachers’ unions left the meeting feeling sidelined and unheard.
Unions Cry Foul: “It Wasn’t Consultation — It Was a Directive”
Representatives from the Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) and the Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) say the session was far from a consultation. Instead, they claim it was a one-way briefing where the government communicated decisions that had already been made.
“It was not dialogue. It was a directive from the top,” said a KNUT official who attended the meeting. “We were simply told the SHA system is the future, and teachers must comply.”
The unions later accused TSC of betraying the spirit of social dialogue, insisting that such a monumental policy shift should have undergone thorough consultation with all stakeholders before implementation.
The Government’s Rationale: Cost and Efficiency
Officials from the Ministry of Health argue that the migration to SHA will save billions of shillings in administrative costs currently paid to private insurers like Minet. They say consolidating public servants under a single scheme will eliminate duplication and ensure equal access to care.
“The government cannot continue paying multiple insurers when we can manage health services under one unified system,” said a senior official at SHA. “The new framework will be transparent, accountable, and fair to all Kenyans.”
Yet critics argue that such centralization could create new inefficiencies. They warn that the SHA might inherit the same bureaucratic bottlenecks that plagued the defunct National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF).
Minet’s Exit and the Rising Uncertainty
Minet Kenya, which has managed the teachers’ medical cover since 2015, has earned a reputation for reliability and quick claims processing. Under its contract, teachers enjoyed access to a vast network of private hospitals and clinics. The sudden announcement that the contract will not be renewed has sent shockwaves through the education community.
Sources close to Minet confirm that the company had expected to renew its agreement with TSC but was informed at the last minute that the government had opted for a public system instead. “We respect the government’s decision, but our priority has always been service to teachers,” a Minet representative told reporters.
With the contract set to expire in four weeks, many teachers now fear being left without medical coverage if the transition to SHA stalls.
The Political Undertones Behind the Move
Analysts believe the SHA transition has political undertones. President Ruto’s administration has made universal healthcare one of its flagship reforms under the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA). By moving public servants to the SHA, the government seeks to demonstrate progress on its promise of equitable access to healthcare.
However, critics say the speed of implementation may be politically motivated — an attempt to showcase quick wins ahead of the 2027 elections. “There’s a political timeline at play,” said policy analyst Dr. Moses Nyandega. “The government wants visible results fast, but healthcare systems don’t transform overnight.”
What’s Next: Dialogue or Showdown?
As tensions rise, teachers’ unions are demanding a fresh round of talks to clarify the SHA framework, benefits, and service network. They have threatened legal action or industrial protests if their concerns are ignored.
“The government must go back to the drawing board,” said KUPPET Secretary-General Akello Misori. “Teachers deserve clarity and assurance before being transferred to a new system.”
With the clock ticking toward the Minet contract’s expiry, the government faces a delicate balancing act: achieving its universal health ambitions without alienating the very workforce that drives Kenya’s education sector.
For now, one thing is clear — the State House deal that promised efficiency has instead unleashed a wave of confusion, mistrust, and tension that may take months to resolve.
