Teachers across Kenya are raising their voices over a health insurance scheme that many feel has failed them.
In Kilifi, one teacher shared a personal account that paints a worrying picture of how the Minet medical cover has left educators stranded when they need care the most. Under the current arrangement, teachers’ monthly medical allowances, which can range from around 6,000 to as much as 12,000 shillings, are taken in full to fund the insurance cover.
On top of that, they also contribute to the Social Health Authority (SHA) scheme, but most private hospitals do not accept it, forcing many to rely only on public facilities.
For those in Kilifi, the list of hospitals that take the Minet cover is very short—Medicross, Kilifi County Hospital, and a small clinic called Mephi.
In Malindi, it is similar, with just Medicross, Malindi Subcounty Hospital, and Star Hospital, which the teacher described as a facility with limited capacity.
The teacher recalled a recent experience where they sought treatment at Star Hospital, only to be misdiagnosed.
This not only delayed proper care but also caused additional stress. In Mombasa, the situation is not much better. While a few facilities like Jocham, Bliss, and Premier still take the cover, many larger hospitals such as Aga Khan, Pandya, and Mewa have stopped accepting it due to unpaid bills from Minet.
Premier is meant to serve as the main referral hospital, yet the closure of options for specialized or urgent care has left many teachers with no alternatives.
The Kilifi teacher even shared how a colleague passed away after being unable to access proper treatment.
The friend had taken a loan to cover medical costs, but the amount was not enough, and they eventually lost their life.
This is not an isolated story. Over 400,000 teachers and their families are affected nationwide. Hospitals have been turning away patients due to unpaid claims by Minet, and in some areas like Ruiru, teachers are left to buy medicine over the counter or pay entirely out of pocket.
Unions and lawmakers have criticized the arrangement, saying it denies teachers dignity and access to basic healthcare. Parliament has gone as far as calling the Minet setup a poorly managed “mongrel” scheme and pushed for the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) to end its contract with the provider.
Some teachers have taken legal action against both TSC and Minet, citing poor services despite regular deductions from their salaries.
Others have seen their dependents removed from the cover over missed paperwork. Protests have also erupted in places like Eldoret and Kakamega, where teachers accused Minet of negligence that contributed to deaths.
Unions like KUPPET and KNUT have threatened strikes after Minet restricted access to higher-level hospitals for chronic illnesses.
The problem is not limited to teachers; police officers and prison staff under similar schemes face the same challenges.
The government’s contract with Minet for these services is worth billions, yet payments to hospitals remain delayed. Reports have suggested that thousands of teachers have died over the past decade because of delays in approval or lack of access to care.
Despite the public outcry, TSC recently renewed Minet’s contract, outlining benefits according to job grades, but many question if this addresses the root problems.
There are now discussions about moving teachers to the Public Officers Medical Scheme under SHA and dropping Minet entirely, though concerns remain about whether county hospitals are prepared to handle the demand.
Many educators believe the best solution would be to give them back their medical allowances so they can choose their own insurance. Without real change, the system will keep failing those who dedicate their lives to educating the country’s children.
