Teacher Strike Enters Second Week as KUPPET Defies Court Order
The educational landscape in Kenya remains deeply disrupted as the teachers’ strike led by the Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) enters its second week. Despite a court order mandating the suspension of the strike, KUPPET’s National Governing Council has firmly declared that their industrial action will persist until their demands are fully met.
At the heart of the dispute is the failure of the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) to address the union’s key grievances, which include demands for better pay, improved working conditions, and the full implementation of the 2021-2025 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA). In a meeting held in Nairobi, KUPPET’s leadership resolved to continue with the strike, underscoring their dissatisfaction with the TSC’s response so far.
KUPPET Secretary-General Akello Misori reaffirmed the union’s position, stating that the strike will not be called off until the TSC engages in meaningful dialogue and addresses the union’s concerns. Misori criticized the TSC’s failure to engage, highlighting the critical impact of the ongoing strike on Form Four candidates preparing for their end-of-term exams.
While the government has begun implementing parts of the CBA, including the second phase of salary increments, KUPPET argues that the measures taken are insufficient to meet the financial needs of teachers, many of whom are burdened with loans and further education expenses. The union also expressed concerns about the promotion of teachers and the proper remuneration of those serving in acting positions.
“This strike is about more than just salaries,” Misori emphasized. “It is about the dignity and respect that teachers deserve.”
KUPPET has urged parents to keep their children at home during the strike, warning that the safety and well-being of students cannot be guaranteed while the industrial action continues. The union remains steadfast in its resolve, stating that the strike will only end once a satisfactory return-to-work formula is agreed upon.
As negotiations between KUPPET and the TSC remain deadlocked, the future of the strike—and the education of thousands of students across the country—hangs in the balance.
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Teacher Strike Enters Second Week as KUPPET Defies Court Order