Kenyan teachers have issued tough demands to TSC over the new SHA health insurance plan, seeking clarity on hospital access, benefits, and group life cover before Minet’s contract expires on November 30, 2025.
The Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) and the Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) are demanding complete transparency before the government transitions teachers from Minet Insurance to the new Social Health Authority (SHA) medical cover next month.
Speaking during a union briefing, KNUT Secretary-General Collins Oyuu said the union will not accept a medical cover whose details remain “opaque and inconsistent.” He accused TSC of keeping teachers in the dark about the actual benefits, service providers, and referral structures under the new scheme.
“We cannot accept a cover we do not understand. Teachers must see the full list of hospitals, the benefits package, and the terms of service before December 1,” Oyuu stated.
Oyuu revealed that teachers have long suffered from slow approvals, service delays, and lack of coordination under Minet. He stressed that any new scheme must build upon not downgrade existing benefits. The union is also demanding inclusion of group life insurance, a long-overdue benefit that would safeguard teachers’ families.
KUPPET Secretary-General Akelo Misori backed the call, saying the transition to SHA must not be rushed. “The government must engage all stakeholders and guarantee continuity of service,” he said. “Without clarity, the rollout will create confusion and anxiety across schools.”
Teachers have also expressed fears that the SHA scheme might rely heavily on the referral system, forcing them to seek care in lower-tier dispensaries before being referred to major hospitals a process they fear will lead to treatment delays.
TSC has, however, defended the transition, arguing that the new plan will give teachers access to over 9,000 health facilities nationwide, compared to only 800 under Minet. But union leaders remain skeptical, saying the number means little if quality and accessibility are not guaranteed.
As the clock ticks toward the December 1 rollout, pressure is mounting on TSC and the Ministry of Health to engage with unions and provide a clear roadmap. Teachers across Kenya have vowed not to be “pushed into a scheme whose terms remain unclear.”
