KUPPET Teachers in Kakamega Launch Strike Over Unmet Demands and Stalled Promotions
Seliphar Machoni
Secondary school teachers in several parts of Kenya took to the streets on Monday to protest against issues in the education sector.
In Kakamega town, teachers who are members of the Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) staged demonstrations, vowing to stay out of classrooms until their demands are met.
KUPPET’s Kakamega branch, led by chairman Johnstone Wabuti, confirmed that the strike would proceed as planned and urged all secondary school teachers across the county to refrain from reporting to work until the government addresses their concerns.
“Starting tomorrow, all KUPPET teachers in Kakamega will be on strike. We do not want any teacher to go to class from tomorrow onwards,” Wabuti stated.
He highlighted the teachers' demands, which include the confirmation of 46,000 interns and the promotion of 130,000 teachers who have already undergone interviews.
Furthermore, Wabuti expressed frustration over the prolonged stagnation in job groups C4 and C3, stating, “It’s very unfair that we teach children who succeed and go on to university, only to return as teachers and find us in the same job group. This lack of progression is demoralizing, as many of us retire after years of service in the same position, without any motivation.”
Joyce Musungu, another teacher, echoed Wabuti’s sentiments and vowed not to return to class until their demands are met.
“Our other demands include the promotion of more than 130,000 teachers who have been stuck in the same job group for over 10 years and the release of third-party deductions. We are not going to relent,” she said.
The KUPPET members marched through the streets before submitting a memorandum of demands at the TSC office, located at the regional commissioner’s office. Their strike comes as students return for the third term.
On Sunday, KUPPET Secretary General Akelo Misori confirmed that the strike would go ahead, stating, “The strike is on.”
Teachers have outlined six demands that must be addressed before they consider returning to work. While the implementation of Phase Two of the 2021-2025 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) appears to be resolved, five other issues remain pending.
“After today’s discussions, the commission is pleased to announce that the government has provided funds for the implementation of the second phase of the CBA, effective from July 1, 2024,” the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) said in a statement following Wednesday’s talks.
The unresolved issues include the confirmation of 46,000 Junior Secondary School teachers currently employed as interns into permanent and pensionable positions.
Other demands are the promotion of more than 130,000 teachers who have been in the same job group for over 10 years, the release of third-party deductions, the remittance of medical funds to the AON insurance scheme, and the immediate payment of retirement benefits to those leaving public service.
While KUPPET members proceeded with their strike plans, Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) Secretary General Collins Oyuu urged teachers to report to work, citing the government’s commitment to addressing teachers’ concerns.
