Gachagua rallies teachers to ditch SHA
By Aloys Michael, April 20, 2026Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has called on teachers to demand an immediate exit from the Social Health Authority (SHA), warning that the current medical scheme is failing to meet their needs.
Speaking during the launch of Democracy for the Citizens (DCP) gubernatorial candidate in Kiambu on Monday, April 20, 2026, Gachagua said the situation facing teachers under SHA is dire and requires urgent action.
“Many teachers have talked to me. I encourage them to demand from the union leaders the immediate exit from SHA, and they go back to a private insurance that can take care of our teachers, our professionals, very important people,” he said.
Gachagua criticised the scheme’s cost structure, noting that consultation in medium and small hospitals costs Ksh3,000 per visit, arguing that teachers are in trouble, pointing out that the previous insurance arrangement provided funeral benefits, which are now absent.
“There was money for the funeral that was not provided by SHA,” the DCP boss said.
Moreover, the former DP has accused union leaders of failing their members.
“The leadership of the two unions have been compromised and taken our teachers into SHA. That is not working,” he said.
His remarks come as pressure mounts from unions and civil servants over the performance of SHA.
Earlier, the Union of Kenya Civil Servants (UKCS) had condemned the health body, accusing it of unilaterally altering medical insurance contracts for thousands of government workers.
Speaking after a leadership transition, UKCS Secretary General Lawrence Nyaguti warned of a deepening crisis, saying recent changes had effectively rendered civil servants uninsured. According to Nyaguti, SHA introduced a restrictive cap of Ksh2,500 per outpatient visit.
SHA in a shipwreck?
“In our contract, we agreed that members are going to enjoy the insurance terms, both outpatient and inpatient. Within the last week, SHA has limited the outpatient scheme to 2,500, which basically means that we as civil servants are not insured,” he said.
Nyaguti also accused SHA of breaching contractual obligations by failing to consult key stakeholders, including the union and the Ministry of Public Service.
He further noted confusion among hospitals, with many unable to distinguish between Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and the Public Officers Medical Scheme fund established in 2024.
As a result, civil servants have reportedly been turned away from hospitals or forced to pay out of pocket.
“The facilities want them to pay before being served, which is illegal,” Nyaguti said, adding that the union is considering legal action if the situation is not resolved.
Teachers, who were incorporated into the fund in December 2025, have echoed similar frustrations. Many report delays in treatment, rejection at hospitals, and rising out-of-pocket expenses for procedures that were previously covered.
David Bor of the Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) said the scheme is failing educators.
“SHA is not working for teachers. The so-called ‘Mwalimu Cover’ is not producing anything,” he said, urging the government to intervene.
Meanwhile, Stephen Langat of the Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) raised concerns over reduced coverage limits. He noted that the maximum cover has dropped from Ksh5 million under the previous scheme to Ksh1.5 million under SHA.
“Failure to do so, we will go to the streets and paralyse learning,” Langat warned.
Both KUPPET and KNUT have threatened to pull out of the SHA medical cover arrangement and warned of a national strike or boycott if the cover is not restored to its previous standards.