TSC to Rolls Out New Government-Backed Medical Scheme for Teachers
Teachers in Kenya will be migrated to a new medical insurance scheme under the Social Health Authority (SHA) by December 1, 2025. The decision comes as the current cover offered by a private insurer is about to expire.
According to TSC, teachers will be enrolled in the Public Service Fund and given a premium SHA medical package that goes beyond the basic benefits offered to other public officers.
The cover will include outpatient and inpatient services, dental and optical care, annual checkups, ambulance services, emergency air-rescue, overseas treatment, group life insurance and last expense benefits.
The plan will cover the principal member, a spouse and up to six dependents.
This comes after a meeting between President William Ruto and teacher representatives at State House where concerns over medical benefits were raised. However, the directive has been met with opposition from teachers’ unions who argue SHA has failed other civil servants in the past.
Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) Nakuru branch executive secretary, Anthony Gioshe, dismissed the move, urging teachers to reject it.
“We have been told by the government that they want to move us to SHA. We have no problem with the Social Health Authority but we are saying this—we will not go there,” Gioshe said.
Teachers argue the current medical scheme already caters for their needs, covering spouses and up to four children. The plan also allows access to services using payroll numbers or biometric verification eliminating the need for physical cards.
Additionally, there are concerns over the 2.75% SHA deduction on gross income which teachers fear will amount to double taxation since they are already contributing to the existing cover.
While TSC says the new arrangement will offer better medical services, unions say teachers deserve an independent scheme tailored to their large workforce. The impasse now sets the stage for more confrontation between the commission and teachers as the deadline draws near.
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TSC to Rolls Out New Government-Backed Medical Scheme for Teachers