KUPPET Strike Enters Third Day Amid Unresolved Teacher Demands

Strike by Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) has entered the third day following failed consultation with Teachers Service Commission (TSC) and Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) last week.

KUPPET insists that their grievances have not been met therefore they will press on with the strike.

“The KUPPET National Governing Council met today to review developments regarding the nationwide teachers’ strike scheduled to start on Monday 26th August 2024. There being no imminent resolution of the members’ grievances by the expiry of our Strike Notice, the meeting resolved to press ahead with the strike from Monday 26th August,” said KUPPET in a statement signed by KUPPET Secretary General Akello Misori last week.

Teacher’s demands

KUPPET said it is fighting for the rights of teachers whose pay is low despite being overworked.

“The union will mobilize its members to fight hard for their labor rights until justice is attained. The upcoming strike will be an effective tool to answer the long-standing demands of frustrated teachers who are under-paid, overworked and demotivated,” KUPPET statement read in part.

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The continuation of KUPPET strike comes at the backdrop of KNUT’s call to stop the strike.

On Sunday 26 August 2024, KNUT announced that it had made a decision to call off the planned strike despite saying that their demands were not met by TSC and the government.

KNUT demands included permanent employment of 46,000 Junior Secondary School (JSS) teachers, implementation of phase two of 2021/2025 amended Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) and promotion of 130,000 teachers.

However it stated they were convinced that the government and TSC had goodwill and would resolve them.

Call to resume work

Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Migos Ogamba has called teachers to resume work as they continue with negotiations.

“We beseech teachers that may have not resumed work to return to their work stations to prepare candidates for national assessment and examinations,” Ogamba said on Tuesday 27 August in Naivasha.

The newly sworn in CS said the government has disbursed Sh13.53 billion for the implementation of the 2021-2025 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) that KNUT and KUPPET signed with the government.