By TWV Reporter
The Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) has issued a stern warning to the government over plans to abolish the current teachers’ medical cover under Minet and place them under the national Universal Health Coverage (UHC) scheme managed by the Social Health Authority (SHA). KUPPET Secretary-General Akelo Misori condemned the proposal as “illegal” and a “gross violation” of the 2025–2029 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), which guarantees the comprehensive medical scheme.
“We are here because of one agenda – the shocking revelation that the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) and the government are planning to phase out our comprehensive medical cover, which we have enjoyed since 2015, and lump us under SHA without our consultation,” Misori said.
The union boss revealed that the plan, recently hinted at in a Ministry of Education statement, caught teachers by surprise and sparked outrage among members. He noted that the Minet scheme was a negotiated benefit, replacing medical allowances previously paid to teachers.
Misori warned that the union would use “all tools at our disposal” to protect the scheme, including court action and industrial action. “If the government insists on rolling out this plan without our input, we are prepared to take to the streets. Consider this a warning,” he said.
KUPPET criticised what it termed “blatant unfairness”, noting that while staff in the Judiciary and Parliament retain exclusive medical schemes, teachers are being forced into a one-size-fits-all arrangement.
“Teachers are the largest contributors to the national tax base, yet the government is punishing them by abolishing their medical scheme while safeguarding those of other sectors,” Misori said. The union expressed doubts over SHA’s ability to offer the same quality of cover as Minet, recalling that even the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) had previously declined to absorb teachers due to the logistical challenge of serving such a large group.
KUPPET pointed to Minet’s proven record in covering costly treatments, including cancer care, kidney and heart conditions, and overseas medical procedures. Misori cited his own experience, where the scheme paid over KSh 4 million for his wife’s treatment in India.
The union dismissed claims that the Minet scheme is inefficient, blaming any reported shortcomings on healthcare facility gaps in rural areas rather than the scheme’s structure. KUPPET insists that any changes must be negotiated and agreed upon.
“We have only heard about this from media reports. There was no official communication through TSC or the ministry. This lack of consultation is unacceptable, and we will not be taken for granted,” Misori emphasised.
The union has urged the government to open urgent talks to avert what it warns could become a major crisis in the education sector. “The issue of teachers’ health is not negotiable. We are not afraid to act through courts, strikes, or any other legal means to protect what we rightfully negotiated,” Misori said.
