Teachers demand assurances as they shift to SHA medical scheme

By Newsflash Reporter

Teachers are heading into a high-stakes meeting with their employer on Monday, armed with a detailed list of demands over the planned transfer of nearly 400,000 educators to the Social Health Authority (SHA) medical scheme.

Key among their demands are the introduction of group life cover and the abolition of pre-authorisation requirements, which they say have caused major delays in service delivery.

They are also calling for a full disclosure of benefits and guarantees before the transition takes effect, citing fears over service accessibility, possible delays, and lack of transparency in the implementation process. The current teachers’ medical cover under Minet Insurance is set to expire on November 30, and the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) plans to move all teachers and their dependants to the new SHA scheme effective December 1.

TSC Acting Chief Executive Officer Evaleen Mitei has convened the crucial talks as part of a series of engagements with stakeholders to smooth the shift. The meeting follows a session held in September, during which SHA presented its proposal, promising broader access to more than 9,000 health facilities across the country—compared to only 800 currently under Minet.

Seek transparency

Kenya National Union of Teachers (Knut) Secretary-General Collins Oyuu has declared that educators will reject any scheme that does not guarantee reliable, transparent, and timely healthcare. He stressed that teachers have endured years of frustration accessing medical services, often travelling long distances or facing long queues for authorisation.

“One thing that has been missing is the group life cover. Minet has failed to provide it, yet it is crucial for teachers,” said Mr Oyuu. “We also want assurance that services under SHA will be faster and more efficient because teachers cannot continue waiting on hospital benches.”

He further stated that teachers would not accept to be moved into a cover whose terms remain unclear. “Before December 1, we must be shown the complete benefits, the hospital network, and assurances that no teacher will be stranded at a hospital. We cannot agree to a cover we don’t understand,” he said.

Teachers, he added, want a health system that respects their dignity and responds promptly to their needs. “Our members have suffered under slow approvals and weak coordination. If SHA is replacing Minet, it must prove that services will be dignified and timely,” he said.

Unions present a united front

Mr Oyuu also raised questions about whether teachers would be forced to follow a referral system—requiring them to begin treatment at low-level dispensaries before accessing higher-tier hospitals. “We were told SHA will provide more than 1,500 hospitals, but we need the list. We will not accept being limited to dispensaries,” he said.

The TSC, however, insists that the transition is in advanced stages, saying it has already engaged education stakeholders and explained the benefits of joining the new scheme.

Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (Kuppet) Secretary-General Akelo Misori backed Knut’s position, arguing that the new plan must build on existing Minet services while remaining comprehensive and transparent.

Read more:Teachers oppose rush to SHA plan

“We demand detailed information on capitation, conditions of service, authorisation procedures, and all other terms,” said Mr Misori. “The Commission says the scheme is ready for implementation on December 1, yet it hasn’t shared key details with unions, which violates public participation principles.”

Kuppet Deputy Secretary-General Moses Nthurima said teachers will only support a plan that guarantees unlimited access to hospitals—including private facilities—without pre-authorisation. He insisted that both inpatient and outpatient services must be clearly covered. “Teachers should be free to choose hospitals in their home counties. The new cover must also include life insurance, which Minet never offered,” he said.

Kenya Teachers Health and Welfare Association (Kethawa) National Secretary Ndung’u Wangenye warned the government against rushing the transition without ensuring comprehensive protection for teachers and their dependants. “The livelihoods of over 400,000 teachers could be jeopardised if this scheme is implemented without clear structures and benefits,” he cautioned.

As the December 1 deadline approaches, the upcoming meeting will determine whether teachers will embrace the new SHA plan—or reject it altogether until their conditions are met.