KUPPET Murang’a Teachers Stage Protest Over Unfulfilled Salary Increment
Members of the Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) in Murang’a County have declared their intention to continue their strike until the government addresses their demands.
The strike was led by the KUPPET Murang’a branch, with Chair Michael Gachema emphasizing that the protest would persist until the government resolves the critical issues affecting teachers nationwide.
The government’s failure to fulfill its promise of a salary increment by July has further fueled the strike. According to Gachema, teachers in Murang’a County have been burdened with heavy workloads without adequate compensation.
The teachers, having expected a pay increase, have decided to boycott work, expressing their discontent with the government’s unfulfilled pledges.
“Teachers of Murang’a County have boycotted work starting today because the government has failed to honor their pledge; we expected an increment in our pay starting in July, our teachers in Murang’a are saying no to labor without good pay.” Gachema said.
Promotion Delays for Teachers
One of the primary grievances highlighted by Gachema is the lack of promotions for over 1,500 teachers in Murang’a who have served for more than 15 years. Despite completing the necessary interviews, these teachers have not received the expected promotions.
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This issue affects approximately 130,000 teachers across the country, who have faced repeated negative outcomes from promotion interviews, leading to frustration among the educators.
John Mburu, the KUPPET Executive Secretary in Murang’a, raised concerns about the government’s failure to remit funds to Savings and Credit Cooperative Organizations (SACCOs) and banks over the past six months.
Although teachers with loans continue to receive deductions from their salaries, the non-remittance of these funds has had a negative impact on their credit scores, putting them at risk of being listed in the Credit Reference Bureau (CRB).
Unfunded Medical Insurance Scheme
Mburu also urged the government to provide funding for the new medical insurance scheme, emphasizing that teachers are currently covering hospital services themselves, even though they have medical coverage.
The Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF) has not been functional for teachers, as the government has yet to remit the necessary funds to service providers.
The union also demands the immediate employment of junior secondary school interns on a permanent and pensionable basis, as previously promised by the government. This issue is among the critical matters the teachers are urging the government to address promptly.
The union representatives urged parents to understand that the strike is a fight for teachers’ rights. They assured parents that teachers would return to work as soon as the government resolves their grievances.
KUPPET Murang’a Teachers Stage Protest Over Unfulfilled Salary Increment
