Teacher Strikes Disrupt School Reopening in Several Counties
Schools reopening in different parts of the country have been affected after teachers began industrial action to push the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) and the government to address long-standing concerns.
Demonstrations have already been witnessed in Busia, Nyandarua, and Kisii counties as educators intensify pressure over poor salaries, insecure employment terms for intern teachers, and ongoing problems linked to the Social Security Health Authority (SHA) system.
In Busia County, teachers announced that learning activities would remain interrupted until the relevant authorities respond to their demands. They insisted that they are tired of empty promises and want practical solutions that directly improve their welfare and working environment.
Charles Mukhwana, who serves as the Secretary-General of the Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) in Busia, urged the government to immediately clarify the future of intern teachers.
He also called for the payment of Kenya National Examination Council (KNEC) exam markers and the urgent fixing of challenges affecting teachers under the SHA health system. According to union officials, many teachers are struggling because important services have not been working as expected.
At the same time, Junior Secondary School (JSS) intern teachers in Nyandarua County held protests in Ol Kalou town.
They demanded to be given permanent and pensionable jobs, saying a recent court decision had already ruled that their internship arrangement was unconstitutional. The teachers said they expect the TSC to respect the court ruling and offer them stable employment without further delay.
Many of the protesting teachers, most of whom are university graduates, expressed disappointment over earning only Ksh17,000 per month.
They explained that the amount is too low to meet the current cost of living, including rent, food, transport, and family responsibilities. Several said they have continued working under difficult conditions despite receiving wages that do not match their qualifications and workload.
They are now asking the TSC to confirm them as permanent employees, compensate them for the period they served as interns, and provide fair treatment equal to other teachers in the profession.
In Kisii County, members of the KUPPET branch also staged demonstrations while calling for a review of the 2021–2025 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).
According to the union, the current agreement mainly benefits school administrators while ordinary classroom teachers receive very little improvement in pay and benefits.
Teachers in Kisii further demanded a reliable medical insurance scheme to replace the SHA system, which they described as ineffective and frustrating.
They also called for intern teachers to be employed permanently and for Junior Secondary Schools to be officially recognised as independent secondary institutions with their own management structures and administrative units.
The protests in Kisii also highlighted the severe shortage of teachers in many schools. Union leaders said the 100 per cent transition policy and the introduction of the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC) have greatly increased pressure on the education system. As a result, many schools are operating with too few teachers.
Some educators revealed that they are forced to handle classes with as many as 70 learners while also teaching nearly 30 lessons every week. They said the heavy workload has caused exhaustion, stress, and burnout, making it difficult to deliver quality education effectively.
Teachers also complained about delayed promotions, unpaid hardship allowances, and late remittance of third-party deductions such as loans and savings contributions. They said these delays have deepened their financial problems and created unnecessary hardship for many families.
The union in Kisii issued a 14-day notice to the government, warning that if no action is taken, all teachers in the county will begin a full boycott starting next month.
“Teachers are not beggars. We are trained professionals asking for dignity and respect. If the employer refuses to listen, then we will make them listen through action,” said Abel Kinyanchui, the Executive Secretary of KUPPET in Kisii.
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