Summary
NAIROBI, Kenya – Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale has defended the government’s healthcare programme for teachers after unions threatened nationwide protests over alleged failures of the Social Health Authority (SHA).
The government says more than 249,000 teachers and their dependents have already received treatment through the Public Officers Medical Scheme Fund (POMSF) under the new system.
However, the Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) insists the scheme has been unreliable and is pushing ahead with plans for protests.
Government Defends SHA as Teachers Raise Concerns
Duale dismissed claims that teachers are being denied treatment, saying official data shows the system is already serving thousands of educators across the country.
“To set the record straight and dispel any narrative suggesting that teachers are being turned away or denied care, the data speaks for itself,” Duale said.
According to the Ministry of Health, over 249,000 teachers and their dependents have visited health facilities and successfully received treatment since the transition to the POMSF under SHA began.
The ministry added that medical claims processed so far have exceeded Sh3.5 billion, with services provided in 2,823 health facilities nationwide.
Duale urged teachers to continue using SHA-accredited hospitals, assuring them that the government remains committed to protecting the health and welfare of educators.
Counties With the Highest Teacher Healthcare Claims
Data released by the Health Ministry shows significant usage of the scheme across multiple counties.
Nairobi County recorded the highest number of hospital visits, with over 30,000 claims valued at approximately Sh527.7 million.
It was followed by Uasin Gishu County, which registered more than 29,000 claims worth about Sh463.2 million.
Other counties with notable usage include Meru, Bungoma, Kisii, Kisumu, Nakuru, Kiambu, Trans Nzoia, and Kericho, reflecting widespread reliance on the government-backed healthcare cover.
Officials say the numbers demonstrate that teachers and their families are actively accessing treatment through the programme.
Teachers’ Unions Cite System Failures
Despite the government’s assurances, KUPPET maintains that the healthcare system is failing many teachers.
KUPPET Secretary-General Akello Misori said the problems are partly linked to suspended medical services by the Rural Private Hospitals Association (RUPHA).
According to the union, several private hospitals have stopped accepting teachers and police officers due to unpaid government claims reportedly exceeding Sh30 billion over the past ten months.
Misori also cited frequent system breakdowns, limited participating hospitals, and delays in pre-authorisation processes as major barriers to accessing care.
Some teachers in Nairobi have reportedly been forced to pay for treatment out of pocket despite regular deductions from their salaries for the scheme.
Hospitals, the union claims, are withdrawing from SHA due to frustrations with the claims and payment system.
A Growing Dispute Over Teacher Healthcare
The dispute highlights growing tensions between the government and teachers’ unions over healthcare access under the new SHA framework.
While the Ministry of Health insists the programme is functioning and already supporting hundreds of thousands of teachers, unions say persistent system failures are putting educators at risk.
With KUPPET threatening nationwide protests in the coming days, the debate over the effectiveness of the new healthcare scheme appears far from settled.
