John Mwangi
Nairobi.
In a major breakthrough for Kenya’s education sector, the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) and the country’s main teachers’ unions have agreed to transition more than 400,000 public school educators and their dependents to the Social Health Authority (SHA) medical cover beginning December 1.
The agreement, reached during a high-level consultative meeting at the Safari Park Hotel and chaired by TSC acting Chief Executive Officer Evaleen Mitei, ends months of uncertainty and averts possible industrial unrest. Representatives from KNUT, KUPPET, KUSNET, KESSHA, and KEPSHA attended the session, which capped off a series of negotiations dating back to September.
The move follows the expiry of the Sh20 billion Minet medical scheme on November 30, paving the way for teachers to be absorbed into SHA’s Public Officers Medical Scheme Fund (POMSF). Under the new arrangement, teachers will access services from more than 9,000 accredited hospitals nationwide, a dramatic expansion from the 800 facilities available under the Minet cover. The new plan will also allow teachers to choose freely between public and private facilities without cumbersome pre-authorization procedures.
“This transition will ensure that teachers and their dependents enjoy quality, reliable, and efficient medical services under a harmonized national framework,” said Mitei, who announced that TSC’s revamped Medical Division will oversee the onboarding process and guarantee continuous coverage.
The deal also includes enhanced provisions such as group life insurance, faster claims processing, and clearer guidelines on capitation rates, referrals, and benefit limits—issues that had previously strained relations between teachers and their insurer.
Union leaders welcomed the deal as a long-overdue victory for educators. KNUT Secretary-General Collins Oyuu said teachers had endured years of frustration over restricted access and delays under the Minet plan.
“We need group life cover, timely service delivery, and full disclosure on what is covered before the transition,” Oyuu said.
KUPPET Secretary-General Akelo Misori echoed the call for transparency:
“We must see the fine print—capitation levels, referral rules, and scope of services. We cannot operate on promises.”
The shift comes amid wider government reforms to streamline public service health benefits, which have seen the overall medical insurance allocation reduced from Sh43.7 billion to Sh32.3 billion annually as part of Kenya’s universal healthcare strategy.
A Joint Technical Committee comprising TSC and union representatives will supervise the rollout, monitor service quality, and resolve any implementation issues, particularly in remote regions where teachers have previously struggled to access care.
TSC has already begun sensitizing staff and regional officers, with stakeholder meetings ongoing to iron out operational details. Teachers have reacted with cautious optimism, describing the reform as a potential “game-changer” for equitable healthcare delivery.
As the December 1 transition date nears, both unions and the TSC have pledged close oversight to ensure a smooth handover—and to hold the government to its promise of better, faster, and fairer medical coverage for Kenya’s educators.