JSS Teachers Petition Against KUPPET’s Proposed Amendments.
The Junior Secondary Schools (JSS) teachers’ lobby group has formally petitioned the Registrar of Trade Unions, voicing their dissatisfaction with the Kenya Union of Post Primary Teachers (KUPPET) and its proposed constitutional amendments.
The group, known as the Kenya Junior School Teachers Movement, argues that these changes infringe upon the rights of junior school teachers who have recently joined the union.
A major concern raised by the lobby group is the lack of a well-defined structure for integrating JSS teachers within KUPPET. They criticized the union for allocating only a single position—Assistant Secretary—at the national level for JSS representation. This, they believe, fails to reflect their contribution, considering KUPPET collects over KSh 30 million from JSS teachers’ union dues.
Currently, JSS teachers contribute KSh 890 monthly as union dues, yet their representation remains minimal. The group perceives this as undervaluing their role and demands a fairer structure within the union to accommodate their growing membership.
Another significant issue raised is the high nomination fees for leadership positions within KUPPET. The lobby group noted that candidates for the Secretary-General and National Chair positions are required to pay KSh 500,000, while other national officials, including JSS representatives, must pay KSh 300,000.
Given that most JSS teachers are employed at job group C2, the group questioned how they could afford such steep fees, seeing this as a deliberate move to exclude them from union leadership.
Furthermore, they expressed concerns over the five-year service requirement imposed on JSS teachers before they are eligible to contest leadership positions. They consider this restriction discriminatory and have sought intervention from the Registrar of Trade Unions to address what they see as an unfair limitation.
Recognition and the Formation of a Separate Union
The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) officially recognized the first cohort of 9,000 JSS teachers in 2023, with a second cohort joining in 2024. Despite this recognition, the lobby group has questioned when and where public participation took place before the TSC’s decision to integrate JSS teachers into KUPPET.
They pointed out that discussions were still ongoing regarding whether JSS teachers should form their own union.
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In response to these concerns, the Kenya Junior School Teachers Association (KEJUSTA) has been established to advocate for the rights and grievances of JSS teachers. This new association aims to provide an alternative platform to address their issues, separate from KUPPET.
The petition submitted to the Registrar of Trade Unions highlights the discrimination faced by JSS teachers in union leadership. The group emphasized that excluding JSS teachers from contesting for positions due to the five-year requirement is unjust and called for formal redress.
Copies of the petition have also been forwarded to the TSC and KUPPET’s national office for further review and action.
JSS Teachers Petition Against KUPPET’s Proposed Amendments.
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