NAIROBI, Kenya, Feb 14 — The Teachers Service Commission has defended a Sh53 billion medical insurance tender award to Minet Insurance amid uproar by a section education stakeholders.
TSC CEO Nancy Macharia told MPs on Tuesday that the tendering process was tamperproof. She said Attorney General Justin Muturi cleared the same.
This is despite suits lodged in court to halt the award following accusations that the tender was skewed to favor Minet.
“Every institution in charge of procurement as well as the Attorney General advised that it had been done over board,” Macharia stated.
Members of the National Assembly Education Committee raised queries on why the teachers’ employer appeared to biased.
The insurance firm was awarded the medical scheme tender on December 1, 2022.
It is expected to offer a comprehensive medical insurance cover for over 341,837 public school teachers for a three-year period.
Minet was awarded a similar tender in 2015.
Teacher complaints
Lugari MP Nabii Nabwera asked why the tender was awarded to Minet despite complaints over inadequacy of services.
“Must teachers get referrals from Bliss HealthCare which is the capital? It’s extremely strenuous for teachers,” Nabwera protested.
Marakwet West MP Timothy Kipchumba questioned why TSC awarded the tender for a period of three years which is against the standard practice for medical services procurement.
“Minet won the tender in 2015 and there have been issues with the services which teachers have previously raised. What informs Minet win every year?” Kipchumba retorted.
TSC boss however explained that the three-year contract is reviewed every year to check on the status of service delivery across the country.
“This is a framed contract to save on time for the commission. It is three years contract but annually it must be appraised,” Macharia told the committee.
She asked lawmakers to allow the commission proceed with the service provider saying if Minet fail to deliver TSC will terminate the contract.
“Members you are our oversight if this year it doesn’t work we terminate it,” Macharia pleaded.
She told the committee that TSC intended to procure the services of the National Insurance Hospital Fund (NHIF) upon the completion of Minet’s previous contract but budgetary constraints presented a hurdle.
Budget constraints
Macharia said NHIF had quoted Sh8 billion annually which would have added up to Sh72 billion in three years.
She noted the National Treasury indicated it had no additional funds at the time.
“We tried to ask for money from this committee so that we can procure the NHIF services. It is because teachers wanted to go to NHIF and we listened to them,” she said.
“We came to this committee and money was not available. I was told by the National Treasury to advertise the tender,” Macharia explained.
