The Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) has threatened a nationwide strike in January 2026 over the Teachers Service Commission’s (TSC) plan to migrate teachers to the State Health Assurance (SHA) scheme.
Led by Makueni County KNUT Secretary-General Benson Ndambuki, the union accused the TSC of discriminating against teachers by forcing a transition to SHA while other civil servants continue to enjoy private medical cover. Ndambuki described the planned shift as “unfair and discriminatory” and warned that unless the government addresses their concerns, teachers across the country would down their tools when schools reopen.
“The unions have sent me, and I want to tell you that we are rejecting the move. We do not know why they are forcing this despite our resistance,” Ndambuki stated, emphasizing that the SHA system is still untested and unclear to members.
KNUT has consistently opposed the government’s plan to replace the existing private medical scheme with SHA. In response, the TSC has invited union leaders to a meeting in Nairobi to deliberate on the matter ahead of school reopening. Similar invitations have also been extended to the Kenya Union of Post-Primary Teachers (KUPPET) and the Kenya Union of Special Needs Education Teachers (KUSNET) for a joint consultation session.
This dispute comes months after President William Ruto directed the Ministry of Education, SHA, and teacher unions to jointly evaluate the medical cover and develop a sustainable model that guarantees quality health services for teachers.
Meanwhile, hundreds of junior secondary school (JSS) teachers in Murang’a County staged demonstrations on Friday, demanding confirmation in permanent and pensionable positions before the January 2026 school reopening. These teachers, recruited on an internship basis in November 2024 and deployed in January 2025, face contract expirations in December without assurance of permanent employment.
The ongoing disputes highlight growing tension between teachers and the government over employment security and medical coverage, raising concerns about potential disruptions to the upcoming school term.
