Teachers’ unions will meet the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) on November 10, 2025, to present a list of demands before the migration of more than 400,000 teachers and their dependents to the Social Health Authority (SHA) on December 1, 2025.
The move is part of a major shift in Kenya’s healthcare system as the government phases out private medical schemes in favor of a unified public health model.
Union Concerns Over Transition
The Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) and the Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) have raised concerns about the speed and transparency of the transition.
Union leaders argue that teachers must not lose existing benefits and demand clarity on contribution rates, hospital networks, and emergency care provisions.
KNUT Secretary-General Collins Oyuu has warned that the migration could disrupt access to critical services if not properly managed.
KUPPET officials have echoed these concerns, citing unresolved issues in the current Minet scheme and calling for guarantees that similar challenges will not recur under SHA.
Unions’ Key Demands
Teachers’ unions are expected to present a detailed list of demands during the meeting with TSC.
Unions want access to all planning documents, including financial models, hospital networks, and contribution structures, to ensure transparency.
Teachers insist that existing benefits under the Minet scheme—such as outpatient, inpatient, maternity, dental, optical, and ambulance services—must remain intact under SHA.
According to the unions, clear terms on monthly contributions are required, with guarantees that teachers and their dependents will not face higher out-of-pocket expenses.
The unions also demand involvement in final negotiations and public forums to ensure that teachers’ interests are safeguarded during the transition.
The unions also want commitments to address systemic issues, such as delays in treatment authorization, and ensure timely service delivery under SHA.
TSC Support for Transition
Despite union pushback, TSC has maintained that the migration to SHA is both necessary and timely.
Acting CEO Evaleen Mitei informed Parliament that the commission has been preparing for the shift since May 2025, collaborating with a multi-agency task force to develop the necessary legal and financial frameworks.
Treasury approval is expected before the December rollout.
According to TSC, teachers will be enrolled under the Public Officers Medical Scheme Fund, which will determine complementary benefits based on its budget.
Mitei assured that the transition will preserve existing benefits and maintain access to enlisted hospitals.
The commission emphasized that the move is critical as the current Minet contract expires on November 30, leaving no room for delays.
TSC has also pledged to work closely with SHA to ensure a smooth migration and avoid service disruptions.
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Officials say the new system will offer broader coverage under three funds—Primary Healthcare, Social Health Insurance, and Emergency, Critical & Chronic Illness—while reducing out-of-pocket expenses for teachers and their families.
SHA’s Position and Health Package
The Social Health Authority has endorsed the migration, describing it as a well-coordinated process aimed at improving healthcare access for teachers and their families.
SHA says the new scheme will operate under three funds: the Primary Healthcare Fund, which covers basic outpatient and preventive services; the Social Health Insurance Fund, which provides inpatient and outpatient insurance for routine and specialized treatment; and the Emergency, Critical & Chronic Illness Fund, which offers financial support for emergencies and long-term conditions.
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Officials assure that teachers will retain access to accredited hospitals and that the transition will result in reduced out-of-pocket expenses.
SHA has already enlisted more than 8,000 facilities nationwide and launched sensitization campaigns to ensure a smooth rollout when the Minet contract ends on November 30.
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