Teachers uproar over medical scheme, shift to SHA

Education PS Julius Bitok announced that the Ministry was reviewing the teachers' medical insurance scheme to provide a more accessible and responsive health cover. [File, Standard]

Teachers across the country have threatened industrial action following government plans to abolish their current medical insurance cover in favour of the Universal Health Coverage (UHC) scheme.

Through their union, the Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (Kuppet), educators have voiced strong opposition to a proposal that would see them transitioned from the Minet insurance scheme to the Social Health Authority (SHA).

On Tuesday, Education Principal Secretary Julius Bitok announced that the Ministry was reviewing the teachers' medical insurance scheme to provide a more accessible and responsive health cover.

"I have received numerous complaints from teachers across the country regarding their health insurance. We are in discussions with the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) to find a solution where there will be one insurance provider under the Universal Health Insurance, in order to eliminate confusion and reduce the suffering faced by our tutors," said Bitok.

However, Kuppet has warned that the proposed move would severely disadvantage teachers.

"This is not acceptable," said Kuppet Secretary General Akello Misori during a press briefing at the union's offices in Nairobi.

He argued that transferring teachers to what he termed a "heavy laden and populated cover" would amount to denying them value for their money.

"Such a plan, which would take away a benefit that teachers already enjoy through Minet Insurance Brokers, would be illegal in law and amount to an unfair labour practice," Misori said.

He noted that the current medical scheme is a negotiated benefit under the 2025-2029 Collective Bargaining Agreement, and that dismantling it would undo progress made in securing teachers' welfare.

"We will not allow our scheme to be lumped into universal health coverage. Teachers deserve the respect accorded to professionals. We are prepared to defend our scheme using every legal tool available," Misori warned.

The standoff comes just three months after legislators called for the termination of Minet's contract, describing it as an "amorphous structure" plagued by inefficiencies.