Author: Hezron Rooy

TSC to Confirm 46,000 JSS teachers in January 2025 – CS Mbadi Teachers across Kenya received positive news as the National Treasury and Economic Planning Cabinet Secretary (CS) John Mbadi confirmed that the government has allocated funds to hire Junior Secondary School (JSS) teachers on permanent terms. This announcement dispels earlier concerns and rumors to the contrary, and Mbadi expressed regret for any anxiety caused by previous statements. The Ministry of National Treasury and Economic Planning clarified that beginning in January 2025, the government will employ JSS teachers on permanent and pensionable terms. This move aims to provide job security…

UASU Strike Begins at Moi University Over 2017 CBA and Salaries Delay The Universities Academic Staff Union (UASU) has declared a comprehensive strike by its members at Moi University, commencing on Monday, August 26. This decision follows the institution’s failure to implement the 2017 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) and delays in salary payments, among other grievances. According to UASU branch secretary Ojuki Nyabuta, the strike was sanctioned following a consultative meeting with national officials on Monday, which upheld the strike notice issued on August 19. The strike was launched at the College of Health Sciences in Eldoret and will continue…

Government Welcomes KNUT’s Decision, Promises to Address Teachers’ Concerns The Kenyan government has welcomed the Kenya National Union of Teachers’ (KNUT) decision to cancel a planned teachers’ strike that was set for Monday, August 26, 2024. Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Migos Ogamba expressed gratitude to KNUT officials and members for their decision, assuring them that the government would work diligently to address the teachers’ demands. Ogamba emphasized the government’s commitment to resolving teachers’ concerns despite the current financial constraints facing the country. He assured that the government was genuinely committed to addressing all legitimate issues raised by the teachers. Follow…

Education CS Migos Asks Learners to Report to School Amid Teachers Strike Parents have been encouraged to ensure that their children report to their respective primary and secondary schools for the third term reopening scheduled for Monday. On Sunday, Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Migos assured teachers that the government was committed to addressing all legitimate concerns raised by educators. He mentioned that, following discussions between the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) and teachers’ unions, the government has allocated resources to implement the second phase of the 2021–2025 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), effective July 1, 2024. The government has also provided resources…

KUPPET Says Teachers Strike is On Despite KNUT Withdrawal A nationwide teachers’ strike is scheduled to begin on Monday following unsuccessful last-minute negotiations between the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) and the Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET). The failure to reach an agreement has heightened the frustration among educators, who believe their long-standing grievances remain unresolved. At the core of the dispute is a Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) that has been under discussion for some time. Last week, the TSC proposed a Ksh 13.3 billion package as part of the CBA, but KUPPET rejected this offer, citing concerns that…

KNUT Withdraws Planned Teachers Strike Hours to School Reopening The Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) has called off the teachers’ strike initially scheduled to commence on Monday. This decision, announced by KNUT Secretary General Collins Oyuu on Sunday, comes after extensive discussions within the union’s National Executive Council (NEC). Following the withdrawal of the strike notice, Oyuu directed all teachers affiliated with KNUT to report to their respective schools for the third term. He communicated that the NEC had thoroughly deliberated the matter before reaching this conclusion. KNUT’s NEC, during its meeting on August 25, 2024, agreed to withdraw…

Ruto Defends New University Funding Model, Babu Owino Blocked From Meeting President William Ruto has provided an explanation for the Kenya Kwanza government’s decision to replace the old higher education funding model with a new system. During a townhall meeting held at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC), the President defended the move, which has faced widespread criticism across the country. Ruto argued that the previous model failed to address societal inequalities, noting that it treated all university courses as equivalent, regardless of their differing needs and costs. This uniform approach, he claimed, was detrimental to the education system. Upon…

CS Mbadi Now Says ‘There is money’ for JSS Teachers Employment Treasury Cabinet Secretary (CS) John Mbadi has backtracked on his previous assertion that there were insufficient funds to employ Junior Secondary School (JSS) teachers on permanent and pensionable terms. During a Citizen TV interview last Thursday, Mbadi had claimed that the government lacked the necessary budget to hire 20,000 teachers. However, he later retracted this statement, admitting that he had been misinformed about the budget allocation for JSS teachers. In a follow-up phone interview with Citizen TV on Sunday, Mbadi clarified that those who believed funds were allocated in…

Anxiety Over School Reopening as Teachers Strike Begins Tomorrow The upcoming reopening of schools is clouded with confusion and uncertainty as a looming teachers’ strike threatens to disrupt teaching and learning. The strike is scheduled just hours before the schools are set to reopen, despite efforts by the Ministry of Education to ensure a smooth start to the third term. The Ministry announced that it had disbursed significant funds to schools, with Cabinet Secretary Julius Migosi confirming the release of Sh21.8 billion in preparation for the term’s commencement. According to Migosi, the allocated funds include Sh14.1 billion for free day…

TSC’s Cash Remittance Lapses Leave Teachers in Financial Strain Many teachers have been affected by TSC’s failure to remit third-party deductions in recent months. These delays impact not only loan repayments but also statutory contributions to the NSSF, Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA), Pay As You Earn (PAYE), and National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF). David Bett, a secondary school teacher from Kuresoi South in Nakuru County, is facing severe financial challenges because the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) has failed to remit his loan deductions. Bett had borrowed Sh670,000 from a teachers’ sacco a year ago to expand his agricultural business. Although…