Teachers demonstrate as strike cripples learning in secondary schools

By Jabali Media

Members of the Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) commenced their strike on Monday, crippling learning activities in Secondary Schools across the country.

Parents had hoped that the strike would be suspended in the 11th hour, but that never came to be after days of negotiations with various players in the government failed to bear fruit.

Majorly representing secondary school teachers, KUPPET officials across the country led their members in peaceful demonstrations, from Bungoma, to Uasin Gishu, Kisii and Nyamira.

Dressed in yellow – the trademark KUPPET attire, they called on the government to fully address their grievances, before they go back to class. The grievances include confirmation of Junior Secondary School (JSS) teachers and implementation of the 2021/2025 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).

“We want TSC and the government to also review our career progression before we return to work," said some of the teachers in Eldoret.

"From here we are moving to other schools to ensure that they are closed," their spokesperson said, advising parents not to send their children to schools,” said teachers who assembled at Bungoma High School, in Bungoma.

"I want to tell my colleagues in the primary sector, teachers who are affected and suffering like teachers in KUPPET, to come forward and participate in this strike together.”

While at it, the Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) members are back in class, after officials called off the strike to give President William Ruto’s time to address their grievances, including implementation of the 2021/1225 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).

Low turn of learners was however reported in various parts of the country.

This comes as the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) said it will settle new raised salaries to all teachers by August 30, 2024.

TSC Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Nancy Macharia stated that the payment will be backdated to July after the government released Sh13 billion for phase two of the current Collective Bargaining Agreement.