The National Assembly Committee on Education, chaired by Hon. Julius K. Melly has questioned the Teachers Service Commission on the status of teachers’ medical scheme and the government’s policy on hardship, housing, and other allowances for teachers.
Appearing before the Committee, TSC Acting Chief Executive Officer, Ms. Evaleen Mitei outlined the scope and performance of the existing three-year medical scheme running from December 1, 2022, to November 30, 2025.
She explained that the scheme covers all teachers and their dependents under a family size of M+6 where both spouses are teachers and M+5 where only one spouse is a teacher.
“The current medical cover provides a wide range of benefits including inpatient, outpatient, dental, optical, maternity, local and international evacuation, as well as funeral expenses. In addition, we have enhanced the cover to address emerging challenges such as premature births and delays in pre-authorization,” Ms. Mitei said.
Hon. Julius Melly pressed for assurance that the services meet teachers’ needs.
“Have you done an assessment of the current medical cover and how it is working for teachers.”
The Commission also revealed that consultations are underway to transition teachers, alongside civil servants and the National Police Service, into the newly established Public Officers’ Medical Scheme Fund under the Social Health Authority (SHA).
Ms. Mitei informed the Committee that a Technical Working Group comprising the National Treasury, Office of the Attorney General, TSC, the Police Service, and SHA has been constituted to address the legal and financial framework.
She added, “It is proposed that teachers will be on-boarded to the new scheme under SHA from December 1, 2025, once all consultations and frameworks are finalized.”
Lawmakers questioned the involvement of teachers in the decision to move to SHA.
Hon. Phyllis Bartoo and Hon. Rebecca Tonkei asked whether the teachers through their inoka have been engaged in public participation and stakeholder engagement.
Committee members expressed concern about the transition. Committee Vice Chair Hon. Eve Obara noted, “We have has this medical cover for years and the current medical cover is expiring in a month. Are you going to be able to onboard all these teachers into SHA in this short time.”
She added that, “We cannot afford a downgrade of benefits. Teachers have long complained of delays and denials; SHA must guarantee better, services.”
Hon. Clive Gesiaro emphasized the need for accountability, “We want to see timelines, we want to see deliverables. Teachers cannot be left in limbo during the transition.”
On the matter of allowances, the TSC informed the Committee that the designation of hardship areas is the mandate of the Ministry of Public Service, Human Capital Development and Special Programmes, through Legal Notice No. 534 of 1997.
Ms. Mitei explained that hardship allowance continues to be paid to teachers in designated regions, while house allowance is paid under categories of Nairobi, major municipalities, and other areas as guided by the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC).
Hon. Abdul Haro noted with concern that the TSC was referring to a gazette notice from 1997. “This is an outdated gazette notice. Hardship areas in the country have changed since 1997.”
She clarified that following SRC’s advisory and the 2023 addendum to the 2021–2025 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), Isiolo Municipality was upgraded from Cluster 4 to Cluster 3 for house allowance effective July 2024.
“Teachers in Isiolo are now benefitting from enhanced rates under Cluster 3, in line with other municipalities,” she said.
The Commission further indicated that the Ministry of Public Service is reviewing hardship designations to align with current socio-economic realities.
Committee Chair, Hon. Melly pledged to further engaged stakeholders on the medical scheme transition and the review of allowances.
“Our teachers deserve dignity and fairness. This Committee will continue to work with the Commission and relevant agencies on this matter,” he said.
