Teachers threaten strike over SHA package, demands unclear

The threat by teachers' unions to call a strike over Social Health Authority (SHA) benefits looms large ahead of school reopening next week, even as union leaders appear unclear on their specific expectations. 

This is despite the unions and the employer, the Teachers Service Commission (TSC), having participated in negotiations during the transition from the previous private medical provider to SHA. 

Over the weekend, Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (Kuppet) Chairman Omboko Milemba said teachers are dissatisfied with SHA.

“Teachers of Kenya are not happy, and we are therefore giving caution to the government that they must act on this; failure to do so, we shall not be opening schools. I have given primary notice, next week, when we have the first board meeting with this team that has been elected, SG shall give an official notice,” Milemba said after the just concluded union elections. 

His sentiments were echoed by Kuppet Secretary General Akello Misori, who added that the social health scheme continues to frustrate teachers in need of healthcare. 

“SHA is frustrating the lives of teachers. We don’t want a situation where teachers are forced to co-pay for services or medical tests. The capitation limits are too restrictive,” said Misori. 

Yesterday, Kuppet executive secretary for Kajiado County, Martin Koikai, said teachers thought SHA would be better compared to the private scheme administered by Minet. 

“Teachers thought they would be given comprehensive insurance through SHA, but have been capped. SHA has capped Sh1,200 for hospital visits, Sh7,000 for consultation and Sh800 for medication. Teachers are not happy with SHA and a lot of hospitals are not providing SHA services,” said Koikai. 

Koikai added that Minet contracted high-end hospitals, but SHA has restricted teachers to Level 4. 

The Level 4 hospitals are however, not equipped with human resources, lack drugs and other medical commodities, compromising the quality of care. 

“Remote hospitals do not have drugs, have no medicine, and have no good facilities for admissions. Teachers giving birth, buy sanitary pads and gloves. As teachers, we believe that SHA has not provided what it promised. It lied to us,” said the official.

“We are planning to move to the streets to raise our issues concerning SHA. We are not getting what we contribute to SHA. Some are giving Sh300 and are getting the same services from teachers. SHA has nothing; it is benefiting teachers, better Minet.” 

However, even as unions demand improvements, they have not clearly outlined whether negotiations are ongoing with TSC to secure additional benefits. 

Initially, unions directed their grievances at TSC, claiming the employer did not negotiate a better package for them, insisting Parliament should intervene. 

Among their demands are group life cover, an enhanced medical scheme, including dental care, and coverage for stillbirth management. 

Teachers have also raised concerns over intern and retired teachers not getting SHA benefits. 

In a previous interview with The Standard two weeks ago, Misori accused TSC of failing to negotiate key components, including group life cover. 

“TSC did not negotiate properly for teachers. They should have secured group life cover and ensured teachers understood the contract and services available,” Misori said. 

Misori called for intervention by TSC, the National Treasury, and Parliament to address funding gaps and define contributions for enhanced cover. 

Amid wrangling between teachers' unions and SHA, Knut chairman in Turkana, Kenyaman Eriong’oa, has claimed that SHA forcefully migrated all teachers from Minet to SHA. 

“All teachers were migrated to SHA without signing any documentation. SHA is not a good medical scheme. On behalf of teachers in Turkana, SHA should have been put systematically,” said Eriong’oa. 

“SHA is not a very good company. We should have retained Minet. The government pushed us to SHA. It was like a directive.”

Eriong’oa regretted that teachers are currently forced to pay consultation fees, in addition to Sh1,200 for outpatient services.

Teachers were transitioned to the SHA scheme on December 1, 2025, under the Mwalimu Cover, marking the end of the long-standing Medical Administrators (K) Limited (MAKL) arrangement. 

But even as the union complain of a weaker cover, four months later, a section of teachers accuse it of failing to demand a better package under the Mwalimu Cover. 

During the transition, a section of teachers accused the union of signing the SHA package without their consultation. 

Before the signing of the package, thousands of teachers, including union officials from Knut and Kuppet, visited the State House in Nairobi, where they were allegedly asked to support a shift from Minet cover to SHA. 

Despite the mounting complaints, the SHA CEO has maintained that teachers, like police and prison officers, are covered under “employer-managed arrangements shaped by negotiated contractual terms”. 

Mwangangi added that teachers should not be turned away from a contracted facility due to system or administrative challenges. 

“The Ministry’s position is that teachers should receive quality, seamless, and affordable care under the enhanced Public Officers Medical Scheme Fund (POMSF), arrangement,” said the SHA CEO. 

Access under SHA, she said, is tied to empanelled and contracted facilities, making provider network readiness a critical component of implementation. 

Additionally, Mwangangi said that the Ministry is working with TSC, SHA and the Digital Health Agency to strengthen systems, improve provider coordination, and ensure teachers can access services nationwide. 

She revealed that recent engagements between the Ministry, TSC and Kuppethad resulted in several interventions aimed at addressing emerging challenges. 

Even as these concerns were raised, a section of union officials had met with the SHA leadership in Kisumu. 

According to a statement on SHA’s website, the authority, the consultation meeting brought together Knut and Kuppet representatives from Western and Nyanza regions. 

The meeting focused on strengthening feedback mechanisms, addressing implementation gaps, and refining operational processes. 

“The engagement forms part of SHA’s broader push to enhance accountability and efficiency in programme rollout,” the statement read. 

Nevertheless, Kuppet Deputy Secretary General Moses Nthurima accused SHA of lacking sincerity in service delivery, saying teachers are struggling to access services despite making regular contributions. 

Teachers are subjected to monthly deductions averaging Sh4,000 as a medical allowance, in addition to 2.75 per cent of their monthly income.