The Social Health Authority (SHA) on Saturday, April 26, 2025, responded to claims by the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) that it declined to enrol over 360,000 teachers due to a lack of proper nationwide infrastructure.
In a statement, SHA refuted the claim, maintaining that all teachers were eligible for insurance covers under three categories: Primary Healthcare Fund (PHC), Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF) and Emergency, Critical, and Chronic Illness Fund (ECCIF).
“All teachers and their dependents are eligible for the Social Health Authority (SHA) benefits package under the three Funds, i.e. Primary Healthcare Fund (PHC), Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF) and Emergency, Critical and Chronic Illness Fund (ECCIF) like any other Kenyan who is registered and contributing,” the statement read in part.
Complementary covers
While debunking claims that teachers had been locked out of the scheme, SHA explained that TSC was free to seek complementary covers for their employees.
However, the authority made it clear that it does not manage other complementary private insurances.
“Employers, such as the Teachers Service Commission (TSC), can provide complementary insurance for their employees for additional benefits through a valid insurance underwriter,” SHA noted.
“The Social Health Authority does not manage the TSC complimentary medical cover, which they got from a private insurance provider. However, TSC can enrol its members in the Public Officers Medical Scheme Fund, in which they’ll determine the complimentary benefits based on their budget.
TSC claims
Appearing before the National Assembly Education Committee, TSC CEO Nancy Macharia said that efforts to onboard 360,000 teachers to the cover had proved futile due to the lack of adequate infrastructure.
“Last year, when we had issues with Minet, we wanted to move our teachers to SHA. We have always wanted to have our teachers under the national insurer, even during the NHIF days,” she said.
“We held a meeting with SHA before renewing our contract with Minet for this final year, and they told us they didn’t have enough structures. They said they would need Ksh37 billion to enrol our teachers, but even then, they were not ready to take them on this year,” she told the committee.