Nationwide Teachers’ Strike Brings Business to a Standstill
The Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) launched a nationwide strike on Monday, disrupting business activities across various parts of the country.
The protests were initiated by teachers from Kisii County, who took to the streets early in the morning, declaring their refusal to return to school until their demands were addressed.
The strike quickly spread to other counties, with teachers from Embu, Kitale, Eldoret, Chuka, Bungoma, Kiambu, Nyeri, Murang’a, Kakamega, Meru, Nyandarua, Vihiga, Busia, and Kajiado joining the demonstrations.
Elijah Maiyo, the Uasin Gishu branch secretary, led KUPPET members in Eldoret, emphasizing that the government must fully implement the 2021–2025 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) before they resume teaching.
Kisii County Demonstrations
In Kisii County, teachers, clad in yellow KUPPET shirts, participated in the protests on Monday, August 26, 2024. They reaffirmed their resolve to persist in the strike until they received their demands.
Jared Abdi Kinyanjui, the organizing secretary of KUPPET’s Kisii branch, emphasized that the government must adhere to the CBA’s second phase, confirm the 46,000 Junior Secondary School (JSS) teachers currently serving as interns, and address long-standing promotion issues for many teachers.
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Similarly, in Bungoma County, teachers gathered at Bungoma High School, ensuring that no teacher or student could enter the premises. They vowed to continue their efforts by visiting other schools to enforce the strike.
Police intervention temporarily halted the protests in Mombasa as teachers peacefully assembled in the Central Business District (CBD).
Although the police initially tried to stop the demonstrations, the teachers managed to convince them to allow the strike to proceed, with a focus on supporting their JSS colleagues.
Key Demands of the Teachers
The teachers have outlined several key demands in the CBA.
- Medical Coverage: Teachers are calling for a revamp of their medical coverage.
- Career Progression Review: The government is urged to review teachers’ career progression.
- Employment Terms: Intern teachers should be employed on permanent and pensionable terms.
- Promotions: The teachers have highlighted that 130,000 have been stuck in the same job group for over a decade, demanding advancements.
- Third-Party Deductions: They also want the release of third-party deductions.
- AON Insurance Remittance: The teachers are calling for medical funds to be remitted to the AON insurance scheme.
- Retirement Benefits: They demand immediate payment of retirement benefits to those retiring from public service.
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The striking teachers have called on the new Education Cabinet Secretary, Julius Migos Ogamba, to advocate for them and ensure that the government honors the agreements made in the CBA.
Nationwide Teachers’ Strike Brings Business to a Standstill
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