Teachers’ unions have rejected a government plan to migrate more than 400,000 teachers and their dependents from the Sh20 billion Minet medical scheme to the Social Health Authority (SHA), saying the move lacks transparency and could deny them access to crucial health services.
The Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT), the Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) and the Kenya Teachers Health and Welfare Association insist that teachers cannot be rushed into joining a scheme whose details remain unclear.
The Minet cover is due to expire next month, and union leaders warned that unless the transition is handled carefully, teachers risk losing vital medical benefits.
Government officials argue that SHA will expand access, offering teachers more than 9,000 health facilities compared with about 800 under Minet.
During a meeting with union leaders, the Teachers Service Commission (TSC), the Office of the President and SHA agreed that further consultations must take place before any transition is made.
KNUT Secretary General Collins Oyuu said unions are not opposed to reforms but stressed that no decision will be made without the approval of members.
“It’s a matter we must carefully take back to our members. SHA took us through several presentations, but in our view, the process is incomplete. It is only right that we refer this matter to the National Executive Council (NEC) for a final decision,” Oyuu said.
He tied the urgency of the matter to the expiry of the Minet cover and also referred to President William Ruto’s recent remarks at State House.
“When the President spoke about reviewing the medical cover, some assumed he was already talking about SHA. Yes, he consulted unions and teachers, but he was clear about reviewing the scheme, not migrating everyone into SHA overnight. A review is welcome, but adopting SHA wholesale requires proper consultation,” Oyuu said.
He confirmed that SHA had presented its proposal to the unions but stressed the need for public participation and reforms to address inefficiencies before implementation.
“They explained their model and what they stand for. Personally, I am not alarmed by their proposal. But as a union, we must listen to all voices before we take a stand,” he added.
KUPPET Deputy Secretary General Moses Nthurima warned that forcing teachers into SHA without proper engagement would meet resistance.
“The government appears determined to migrate teachers. We have not accepted the move and are telling them to engage directly with teachers. Decisions that affect teachers’ lives cannot be made at headquarters without their input,” he said.
His caution followed remarks by TSC acting Chief Executive Officer Evaleen Mitei, who told Parliament’s Education Committee that consultations were underway to move teachers to SHA by December 1. But Nthurima insisted union leaders have not approved the transition.
“You cannot wake up one morning and tell teachers to abandon a scheme they know for one whose details remain vague. We cannot be pushed into a system without transparency or firm guarantees,” he said.
He also criticised insurers managing Minet for failing to resolve long-standing complaints, accusing them of putting profit before service delivery.
“For example, pre-authorisations take too long, and when doctors recommend admission, the insurer often refuses, saying their own doctors disagree. This conflict persists because the insurer appears more focused on making money than serving teachers,” Nthurima said.
Kenya Teachers Health and Welfare Association National Secretary Ndung’u Wangenye echoed the concerns, saying teachers’ lives could be at risk if they are moved into SHA without a clear and comprehensive package.
“If SHA expects a teacher to pay as much as Sh60,000 annually, then the cover must be comprehensive, covering outpatient, inpatient, maternal, dental and optical services. Teachers must not be forced into a scheme offering less than what they already have,” he said.
Wangenye urged the government to fully involve education stakeholders in shaping the framework.
“We must scrutinise everything SHA is offering because teachers have already suffered under Minet. If the new cover fails to meet their needs, we will have no choice but to oppose it,” he added.
