- Knut and sister union, Kuppet, had planned to commence their strike on Monday over six issues including promotion of 130,000 teachers.
- University union Uasu issued strike notice over delays and non-payment of their full salaries and delayed implementation of their 2017-2021 CBA.
Image: DOUGLAS OKIDDY
Sections of the media had predicted a total shutdown in the education sector as teachers’ unions vowed to orchestrate nationwide strikes as schools reopened for the third term to push for timely pay, improved working conditions, and promotions, among other demands.
But the prediction failed to live up to its billing, with Knut calling off their strike at the eleventh hour, citing goodwill from the government to address their grievances.
Knut and sister union, Kuppet, had planned to commence their strike on Monday over six issues, including the promotion of 130,000 teachers, absorption of 46,000 others on permanent and pensionable terms and remittance of statutory and loan deductions to relevant bodies.
Knut Secretary General Collins Oyuu said the National Executive Council met on Sunday and agreed to suspend the strike as they address their issues administratively.
He said TSC had made some concessions to their demands, warranting the decision to suspend the planned strike.
"During the deliberations, the five demands were thoroughly discussed, and notable progress was made. Specifically, regarding teacher promotions, the commission has already advanced 51,232 teachers through competitive interviews, with the process continuing actively," he said.
Kuppet and Knut issues are a mirror of each other, including full implementation of the second phase of the 2021–25 amended Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) signed with the Teachers Service Commission.
While Knut said they had noted TSC’s commitment to address their concerns – including the provision of medical cover and remission of loan and statutory deductions - the union warned that the strike has not been called off, just suspended.
"We assure our members that the union is committed to resolving the matters herewith, failure to which we shall revert to the initial position since the strike notice has only been withdrawn," Oyuu said.
Kuppet, on their part, maintained a tough stance and even appeared to trash Knut’s U-turn on the industrial action, saying the teachers’ strike covers
"Following the withdrawal of the strike notice by the Kenya National Union of Teachers, Kuppet wishes to inform members and all teachers at large that the strike starting from Monday covers all teachers in the public service," Kuppet Secretary General Akello Misori said.
Kuppet members in various parts of the country answered the call and poured on the streets to protest even as learners filed up at bus termini in their numbers to head to school for the third term.
The Kenya Secondary Schools Heads Association (KESSHA) assured parents of their children’s safety during the prevailing period of the strike.
“KESSHA in collaboration with the Ministry of Education and the TSC would wish to assure all the parents and the learners countrywide that the learner's welfare and well-being would be safeguarded while in the institutions of learning,” national chairperson Willie Kuria said.
University dons also actualised their threat to strike and stayed away from lecture rooms as their strike got underway on Monday.
The University Academic Staff Union (Uasu) issued a strike notice over delays and non-payment of their full salaries and delayed implementation of their 2017-2021 CBA.
At the Moi University in Eldoret, more than 900 lecturers took part in the protest.
Besides the salary issue and delayed CBA implementation, they also raised concerns that more than Sh4.1 billion deducted from their pension scheme had not been remitted.
“We are appealing to President William Ruto to come to Moi and have a roundtable meeting with all stakeholders to save this prestigious institution from collapsing," chapter chairman Richard Okero said.
The strike paralysed learning across all Moi University campuses.
"All the 900 academic staff of Moi University have downed their tools, and there will be no teaching and learning at the university until we are paid our salary arrears and the remittance of monthly contributions worth Sh4.1 billion to a third party," Okero affirmed.