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Teachers and police officers in Kenya are facing a growing health crisis as hospitals begin to deny them medical services due to unpaid insurance claims. The issue stems from billions of shillings owed to healthcare providers by Medical Administrative Kenya Limited (MAKL), the insurer contracted by the National Treasury under a Sh29 billion deal.
Reports reveal that the Teachers Service Commission (TSC), the National Police Service (NPS), and the Kenya Prisons Service (KPS) have not released funds to cover medical services provided to their employees. As a result, over 452,635 teachers and thousands of police officers are now struggling to access healthcare.
Brian Lishenga, Chairman of the Rural and Urban Private Hospitals Association (Rupha), confirmed that hospitals have started turning away patients from these groups. “Private hospitals are issuing official letters stating they have suspended services because the insurers responsible for police and teachers have failed to pay their dues,” Dr. Lishenga explained.
Several hospitals across the country have already stopped providing services to affected individuals. These include AGC Tenwek Hospital, Siloam Hospital, Chelymo Hospital in the South Rift region, Kisii Teaching and Referral Hospital in Nyanza, and Raele Hospital in Uasin Gishu. The suspension affects not only emergency and referral cases but also routine outpatient and inpatient services.
AGC Tenwek Hospital, for instance, announced the suspension of services on February 1, citing unpaid debts from MAKL. “This decision is due to outstanding payments for services already rendered. MAKL members will now need to pay in cash for all services to ensure the sustainability of our operations,” the hospital stated.
The hospital’s board chairman, Dr. Robert Langat, revealed that MAKL, the defunct National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF), and the Social Health Authority (SHA) owe the facility over Sh1 billion. “We have raised this issue with the Cabinet Secretary and Principal Secretary for Health, but no solution has been provided. This is an unprecedented crisis,” he said.
Similarly, Kisii Teaching and Referral Hospital suspended services on January 27, while Raele Hospital issued notices to teachers informing them of the discontinuation of services.
Teachers’ unions have expressed concern over the situation, warning that it could disrupt learning across the country. Collins Oyuu, Secretary-General of the Kenya National Union of Teachers (Knut), and Omboko Milemba, Chairman of the Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (Kuppet), called for urgent intervention from the National Treasury.
“Teachers suffering from terminal illnesses or on maternity leave cannot afford to pay for medical care out of pocket. This crisis affects households in all 47 counties,” Milemba said. Oyuu added, “It is unacceptable that teachers are being turned away from hospitals due to the employer’s failure to release funds.”
TSC CEO Nancy Macharia recently stated that the commission had not received the necessary funds from the National Treasury. The medical scheme for teachers covers a wide range of services, including outpatient and inpatient care, maternity, dental, optical, psychiatric, and counseling services, as well as emergency evacuations and funeral benefits.
Police officers, including those assigned to protect high-ranking government officials and critical installations, are also affected. A senior police officer confirmed that the issue is being addressed at the highest levels. “This is a serious matter, and the National Treasury is working to resolve it so that medical services can resume,” the officer said.
As the crisis deepens, thousands of teachers, police officers, and their families remain in limbo, unable to access essential healthcare services. The situation highlights the urgent need for the government to address the financial gaps and ensure that public servants receive the medical care they are entitled to.
