The Kenya National Union of Teachers, (KNUT) officials have strongly opposed the government’s directive requiring all teachers to transition from Minet to Social Health Authority, (SHA) medical coverage, arguing the move could compromise healthcare delivery for the educators.
Speaking during a teachers’ induction ceremony in Voi on Friday that saw over 250 union teacher representatives from across the county attending, KNUT Executive Secretary for Taita Taveta branch Lenox Mshila said teachers prefer maintaining a single, comprehensive medical scheme specifically designed for educators rather than joining SHA, which could create additional problems for the teaching fraternity.
“We know the government is trying to pull teachers to join SHA, but our wish and suggestion is that as a union, we need the likes of Minet, which is very strategic to serve teachers and not make them suffer, instead of SHA which could bring them more problems,” Mshila said.
The Teachers Service Commission is preparing for a significant healthcare overhaul that will see over 400,000 teachers and their dependents moved from their current medical insurance provider to the newly established Social Health Authority by December 1, 2025.
Mshila emphasized that teachers currently operate under both SHA and MINET schemes but expressed preference for a single, well-planned healthcare system that would ensure better treatment without the challenges educators currently face.
ALSO READ:
KUPPET official raises queries over transition from Minet to SHA
He urged the government to address health matters with the seriousness they deserve, noting that teachers do not want disturbances in healthcare provision.
“If possible, there should be one comprehensive medical scheme for teachers that will cater for all of them,” he stated, highlighting concerns that the SHA transition might not adequately serve the teaching profession’s specific healthcare needs.
The healthcare debate formed a central theme during the induction ceremony, which was designed to equip teacher representatives with enhanced skills to improve education delivery across Taita Taveta County.
Dan Aloo, KNUT Executive Secretary for Kilindini branch and National Trustee, who represented Secretary General Collins Oyuu, linked healthcare concerns to broader teacher welfare issues affecting the profession.
Aloo revealed that teachers have been receiving training on stress management following alarming levels of mental health challenges within the profession. He attributed the rising stress levels to excessive workloads, overcrowded classrooms, and difficult economic conditions that have pushed many educators to develop mental health problems.
“Teachers have received training especially on matters health, following the level of stress amongst teachers which is as a result of the amount of work teachers are doing, the number of students in school, and also as a result of the economic situation which has made a number of teachers to have mental problems,” Aloo explained.
The training sessions included modules on financial management, school administration, and stress management techniques to help teachers develop coping mechanisms for their demanding work environment. Aloo noted that the comprehensive training would enable teachers to support headteachers in school management while maintaining their personal well-being.
ALSO READ:
Beyond healthcare concerns, KNUT officials used the platform to address other critical issues affecting the education sector, including the contentious debate over Junior Secondary School placement and inadequate funding for teacher promotions.
Aloo strongly criticized the allocation of only Ksh1 billion for the teacher promotion, arguing it can only facilitate advancement for 25,000 teachers out of Kenya’s approximately 500,000 teaching workforces.
“As a union, in the 2025/2026 promotion, we want a budget of KSh2 billion and not Ksh1 billion because one billion only promotes 25,000 teachers in a year yet there are about 500,000 teachers, which is a drop in the ocean,” he stated, emphasizing the need for increased government investment in teacher career progression.
The union also reinforced its position on Junior Secondary School integration, advocating for JSS to remain within primary school settings under unified leadership. This stance reflects ongoing debates within Kenya’s education sector about the optimal placement of junior secondary education under the Competency-Based Curriculum. Education stakeholders remain divided, with some preferring JSS integration with secondary schools while others support the current primary school domiciling.
Aloo emphasized that primary schools should maintain single leadership structures that oversee both junior and primary school operations, arguing this approach would ensure better coordination and resource utilization.
The induction ceremony also featured Senator Johnes Mwaruma of Taita Taveta County, who attended as a former teacher and union member committed to championing educators’ concerns in the Senate.
ALSO READ:
TSC grants lactating teachers two hours off daily in new support policy
Mwaruma pledged to address hardship allowances for teachers in remote areas of the county, noting that allowance discussions were ongoing to ensure all deserving teachers receive appropriate compensation.
“Currently, the biggest challenge that we are working on are the issues of hardship allowances in some parts of the county, and the issue is being discussed, ensuring that all teachers in deserving areas receive hardship allowances,” Mwaruma said, adding that no existing hardship allowances should be terminated without consulting affected teachers.
The senator praised the collaboration between political leadership and educators, emphasizing that understanding teachers’ challenges helps inform policy formulation in the Senate. He committed to taking the JSS integration concerns to the legislative body for further discussion and potential policy intervention.
Aloo commended both Senator Mwaruma’s support and the national government’s willingness to engage with teachers on various grievances. He noted that the 2025-2029 Collective Bargaining Agreement should be implemented across two terms, with teachers who received promotions on April 1, 2025, receiving their promotion letters and corresponding salary adjustments without further delays.
The comprehensive training program, facilitated by specialists from Nairobi, aimed to strengthen teacher representation across Taita Taveta County while building capacity for improved education delivery.
Mshila explained that the induction sought to enhance bonding between teachers, pupils, and local communities while equipping union representatives with skills to support school management.
By Michael Oduor
You can also follow our social media pages on Twitter: Education News KE and Facebook: Education News Newspaper for timely updates.
>>> Click here to stay up-to-date with trending regional stories
>>> Click here to read more informed opinions on the country’s education landscape
