Business came to a standstill in several parts of the country on Monday as the Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) took to the streets. The strike begun with teachers from Kisii County who took to the streets early morning and vowed not to go to school until their grievances are heard.
Teachers from Embu, Kitale, Eldoret, Chuka, Bungoma, Kiambu, Nyeri, Murang'a, Kakamega, Meru, Nyandarua, Vihiga, Busia and Kajiado counties also joined in the demonstrations demanding their demands to be met.
KUPPET members from Eldoret were led by KUPPET Uasin Gishu branch secretary Elijah Maiyo who reiterated that the government must fully implement the 2021-2025 CBA agreement before they go back to teaching.
Donned in their yellow KUPPET shirts, teachers in Kisii staged the demonstrations on Monday, August 26, 2024 and affirmed to continue striking until their demands are met.
“We want the government to adhere to the CBA’s second phase as we had agreed. We also want them to confirm the 46,000 JSS teachers who are currently operating as interns and to give us promotions as many of our teachers have been stagnated for a very long time”, Jared Abdi Kinyanjui, the organising secretary of KUPPET Kisii branch said.
Business was also not usual in Bungoma County where teachers gathered at Bungoma High School to ensure that no teacher or student would enter into the compound. They promised to move from school to school and ensure no student nor teacher reports back.
In Mombasa, the demonstrations were temporarily halted as police tried to stop the teachers from demonstrating. The teachers peacefully gathered in Mombasa CBD but the police intervened and stopped them from continuing with their strike.
They were, however, able to convince the police to let them demonstrate. They vowed to help their JSS colleagues and continue with demonstrations until JSS teachers are confirmed.
Among the demands in the Collective Bargaining Agreement that the teachers want met are that their medical covers be revamped, the government to review their career progression, and intern teachers be employed under permanent and pensionable terms .
The teachers have also decried that 130,000 of them have been stagnant for over 10 years in one job group and want to be promoted. Teachers also want the release of third-party deductions.
Teachers also want the remittance of medical funds to the AON insurance scheme and the immediate payment of retirement benefits to those who retire from public service.
They have called upon the new Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Migos Ogamba to fight for them and ensure they get what they agreed upon with the government.
