The ongoing teachers’ strike in Kenya has intensified, with the Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) leading a nationwide job boycott.
The strike began as schools reopened for the crucial third term, which is packed with exam preparations.
Teachers are protesting the government’s failure to fully implement the 2021-2025 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), promote 130,000 teachers, absorb 46,000 Junior Secondary School (JSS) teachers into permanent positions, and address delayed payments and statutory deductions.
Despite negotiations, the government claims it lacks the resources to meet these demands. Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi noted a Ksh 13 billion shortfall in the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) budget, making it impossible to convert 46,000 teaching interns into permanent employees or hire the 20,000 additional teachers requested by unions.
However, the government has released funds for capitation and some teacher promotions, and the Ministry of Education is urging KUPPET to reconsider its stance, citing progress in addressing their grievances.
Parents and school heads are concerned about the strike’s timing, as it disrupts a term focused on national assessments, including the KCSE exams.
There are fears that sending students home during this critical period could pose safety risks, especially for those in boarding schools located far from their homes.
With over 400,000 teachers involved, there are calls for President Ruto to intervene and resolve the standoff urgently.
