Members of Parliament have accused the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) of mishandling hardship allowances for teachers, saying the agency has failed to fairly classify hardship areas, leaving thousands of teachers in limbo over their benefits.

In a session on Thursday, the legislators demanded an urgent review of the system, warning that the current arrangement undermines transparency and denies teachers their rightful compensation

The allowance, created to compensate public servants posted to regions with insecurity, poor infrastructure and lack of basic amenities, is provided under Regulation 91 of the Code of Regulations for Teachers and the 2025–2029 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).

While TSC administers the funds, the State Department for Public Service and Human Capital Development determines which regions qualify as hardship areas, with the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) advising on rates.

MPs said this fragmented arrangement has led to contradictions that continue to frustrate teachers.

Isiolo Woman Representative Momina Bonaya pressed the commission to explain why Isiolo Municipality had not been upgraded into Cluster 3 for house allowance despite “clear eligibility” of schools there.

Acting TSC CEO Everleen Mitei, however, defended the agency, saying teachers in Isiolo already benefit from enhanced terms.

“Teachers in Isiolo municipality are now earning an enhanced house allowance under Cluster 3,” she said, adding that the terms will be maintained in the new CBA.

Legislators insisted the allowances system remains unfair. Githunguri MP Gathoni Wamuchomba accused the government of excluding Parliament and unions from talks on reclassification.

She pointed to a 2019 report that proposed splitting hardship areas into “extreme” and “moderate” categories, a move projected to save the government Sh6 billion.

“Why were teachers paraded at State House when the same government has denied them allowances?” she posed.

“Over 118,000 teachers in 35 counties are affected. The budget is allocated by Parliament, not the presidency. Teachers should not be misled into celebrating while their benefits are under threat.”

Her remarks highlighted a clash between political promises and institutional processes. President William Ruto has assured teachers that their allowances will not be reduced, but unions warn that the matter remains unsettled.

Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) chairman Omboko Milemba defended the State House meeting, saying it was part of union efforts to protect teachers’ benefits.

“The teachers who went there were leaders and the hardship allowance was part of the memorandum we took there. Even the circular that was supposed to effect the reduction had already been shelved,” Milemba said.

He added that financing the CBA remains a pressing issue.

“The CBA was broken into two phases, costing Sh30 billion. Already, Sh8.6 billion has been spent, leaving Sh21.4 billion. Financing is a matter for Parliament, but the president has also been urging agencies to cost the agreements properly,” he said.

The debate centres on whether hardship allowances should remain uniform or be adjusted to reflect varying levels of hardship. Critics argue that teachers in Turkana face tougher conditions than those in Nyandarua, yet both groups receive the same stipend.

The Ministry of Public Service has since started a review of hardship areas, raising expectations of a “graduated model” of pay.

“Matters of hardship should not be politicised. They must be handled transparently, through unions and Parliament, not backroom deals,” Wamuchomba said.

Meanwhile, TSC announced that all teachers will be moved to a new medical insurance scheme under the Social Health Authority (SHA) beginning December 1, 2025, when the current contract with a private insurer ends.

In the new arrangement, teachers will join the Public Service Fund and access a premium SHA cover extending beyond the core package available to other public servants.

The cover includes outpatient and inpatient care, dental and optical services, annual checkups, ambulance and emergency air rescue, overseas treatment, group life and last expense benefits. The scheme will cater to the teacher, their spouse and up to six dependents.

The announcement followed a meeting between President Ruto and teachers’ representatives at State House, where medical cover featured prominently among grievances.

But teachers have rejected the plan, citing complaints by other civil servants about SHA’s inefficiency. Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) Nakuru branch executive secretary Anthony Gioshe said the teaching fraternity will resist attempts to onboard them into the scheme.

“We have heard a story from the government that they want to move us into SHA. We have no problem with the Social Health Authority, but we are saying this, we will not go there,” Gioshe said.

He urged the government to provide teachers with an independent medical cover, noting the size of the workforce justifies it. He added that the current scheme is comprehensive, covering a teacher, their spouse and up to four children, while members access services using payroll numbers or biometric verification instead of physical cards.

Teachers also criticised the mandatory 2.75 per cent SHA deduction on gross income, arguing it amounts to double taxation when combined with their existing cover.

Teachers medical cover AON Minet will be scrapped as the government eyes a review to give teachers a better medical cover similar to that of the civil servants.

Teachers will be moved from AON Minet cover to Social Health Authority (SHA) starting December 2025 in new TSC changes.

Teachers will be enrolled in the Public Service Medical Fund which is popular with civil servants.

This comes shortly after President William Ruto met thousands of teachers in State House where he promised to review the current teacher medical cover.

Ruto promised to review the current medical cover to ensure it is aligned with the present health needs of teachers and their families.

Teachers are paying for their medical cover through their monthly medical allowance but there have been numerous complaints from teachers over bad services.

Teachers in lower job groups, like Primary Teacher II (Grade B5), get Ksh1 million in inpatient coverage and Ksh150,000 for outpatient needs.

Meanwhile, senior educators, such as Chief Principals (Job Group D5), enjoy larger provisions, with Ksh3 million for inpatient care and Ksh450,000 for outpatient services.

Some benefits however remain consistent across the board, regardless of your job group. For instance:

• Dental Cover: Ksh45,000
• Optical Cover: Ksh60,000
• Last Expense Cover: Ksh300,000

Maternity coverage, however, is scaled with job grades, ranging from Ksh120,000 for Grade B5 to Ksh300,000 for Grade D5.

If you’re a TSC-employed teacher between 18 and 65 years old, you’re covered under this scheme.

It also extends to your loved ones—you can add one registered spouse and up to four dependent children.

These children are eligible for coverage from birth until age 18 (or up to 25 if they’re in school). And here’s a thoughtful inclusion: there’s no age limit for children with certified disabilities.

Want to know what the plan actually covers? Let’s break it down:

1. Inpatient Benefits

You’re covered for almost everything you’d need in a hospital. This includes:

• Doctor’s fees (surgeons, anesthetists, consultants)
• ICU and HDU care
• Medications and laboratory tests
• Imaging services like X-rays, CT scans, and MRIs
• Specialized treatments, including chemotherapy and radiotherapy
• Costs for internal surgical appliances

Essentially, if you’re hospitalized, this plan has you sorted.

2. Outpatient Benefits

Outpatient care is equally robust and includes:

• Routine visits to your general doctor or specialist
• Diagnostic tests
• Physiotherapy sessions
• Treatment for chronic illnesses, such as diabetes or hypertension
• HIV/AIDS care, including access to antiretrovirals

This means you don’t have to delay routine checkups or treatment for ongoing conditions.

3. Maternity Coverage

For teachers planning or expecting children, the maternity benefits are especially generous. They include:

• Antenatal and postnatal care
• Delivery costs (normal and C-section—whether elective or emergency)
• Routine immunizations under the Kenya Expanded Programme on Immunization (KEPI)

With everything from initial checkups to delivery costs covered, it’s a reassurance every new parent will appreciate.

4. Dental and Optical Cover

Need a root canal or a new pair of glasses? This plan won’t let you down. Dental benefits include:

• Common procedures like tooth extractions and scaling (if medically necessary)
• X-rays and dentures for injury-related losses
• Dental crowns for restorative care

For optical care, the benefits cover:

• Glasses and lenses
• Frames
• Ophthalmic surgeries and related ultrasounds

These add-ons are crucial for everyday wellness, ensuring your vision and dental health get the attention they deserve.

Additional Perks You Should Know

This scheme isn’t just about the basics—it also addresses more complex health needs. You can count on:

• Emergency evacuation (road or air) in critical situations
• International referrals for specialized care
• Support for terminal illnesses like cancer and kidney failure
• Services for chronic conditions such as arthritis, diabetes, and hypertension
• Rehabilitation for substance abuse or work-related trauma