Kenyan Teacher Stranded in India as SHA Delays Ksh 5 Million Treatment

A Kenyan teacher has been stranded in India for three months as her family struggles to raise funds for a Ksh 5 million bone marrow transplant, while waiting for the Social Health Authority (SHA) to disburse the overseas treatment fund.

Grace Chepyegon, who hails from Sacho in Baringo County, is currently in an Indian hospital awaiting the life-saving procedure.

Her husband, Laban Kipkut, told the media on Friday, February 13, 2026, that the family has already spent another Ksh 5 million on expenses that include chemotherapy, travel, and desensitisation.

Despite migrating from the old Minet medical cover to the new SHA-administered Public Officers Medical Scheme Fund (POMSF), which the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) adopted for teachers from December 1, 2025, the family has yet to receive the promised support.

“Our initial funds were fully used before she could receive treatment,” Kipkut said.

Family Says SHA Yet to Disburse Overseas Treatment Fund

He also revealed that there has been constant back-and-forth communication between SHA and TSC. “They keep telling us they are still processing the registration and identification of hospitals in India,” he added, describing the delays in approving the overseas hospital.

SHA CEO, Dr Mercy Mwangangi, while appearing before a parliamentary committee on Wednesday, February 11, 2026, admitted that the system is currently paralysed.

Also Read: SHA Invites Overseas Healthcare Providers to Offer Specialized Services to Kenyans

The new SHA Act requires the authority to carry out a strict procurement process before approving and contracting with any overseas hospital.

“The process of reviewing submissions from hospitals and extending contracts should be concluded by the end of this month, February,” Dr. Mwangangi said.

Family members have appealed to the government to increase the overseas treatment cap of Ksh 500,000, not just for their kin but for other Kenyans also seeking critical treatment abroad.

Overseas Treatment Package for Teachers

Under the new SHA medical cover, teachers who migrated from Minet are entitled to overseas treatment for specialised medical procedures unavailable in Kenya. Each case is currently capped at Ksh 500,000 and must be approved by SHA at a contracted foreign hospital.

Also Read: Eyebrows Raised as SHA Names 47 County Operations Managers [FULL LIST]

However, the authority is still finalising agreements with overseas facilities, meaning some patients may need to pay out-of-pocket temporarily.

The benefit covers 36 to 39 specialised procedures, including bone marrow transplants, while local treatments continue to be covered under separate SHA limits.

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SHA Boss Dr. Mercy Mwangangi speaking at past event. PHOTO/NMG