- Knut pulled out of the industrial action on Sunday citing goodwill on the side of the government.
- Kuppet members in various parts of the country held peaceful protests after the National Executive Council (NEC) gave them the green light earlier on Sunday.
Image: DOUGLAS OKIDDY
Secondary school heads have assured parents and guardians of learners’ safety as they reopen for the third term at the onset of the Kuppet strike.
Teachers from three unions had called for a nationwide strike starting Monday, August 26, over non-implementation of their CBAs and other issues, but Knut pulled out of the industrial action on Sunday, citing goodwill on the side of the government.
Secretary General Collins Oyuu in a press conference, directed teachers affiliated to the union to report to schools even as sister union Kuppet insisted their strike was still on.
Knut comprises mainly primary school teachers, while Kuppet represents the welfare of secondary school teachers.
As learners reported to schools on Monday, Kuppet members in various parts of the country held peaceful protests after the National Executive Council (NEC) gave them the green light earlier on Sunday.
Following the development, Kenya Secondary Schools Heads Association (KESSHA) national chairman Willie Kuria assured parents that their children would be safe in institutions whose teachers are participating in the strike.
“With regard to the looming teachers' strike occasioned by a labour dispute between teachers' unions and the TSC, 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,” he said in a statement late Sunday.
“Subsequently, parents are advised to prepare learners for the third term school reopening starting August 26, 2024,” he added.
On Wednesday, TSC met with officials of the Knut, Kuppet, and the Kenya Union of Special Needs Education Teachers (KUSNET) over the delayed implementation of the reviewed 2021–25 Collective Bargaining Agreements (CBAs).
TSC CEO Nancy Macharia said that following the discussions, the government provided funds for the implementation of the 2nd phase of the CBA with effect from July 1, 2024.
“Effectively, the unions have noted the TSC position and agreed to consult their internal organs with a view to withdrawing the strike notice,” she said in a statement.
Both Knut and Kuppet held NEC meetings on Sunday, but 68 Kuppet members unanimously voted in favour of the strike, while only two dissented.
Knut’s NEC on their part called off the strike with Oyuu saying “since we have commenced addressing the remaining matters administratively”.
But despite Knut calling off teachers’ strike, some primary schools still reported low turnouts.
A spot check in Homa Bay county for instance showed that at Lake Primary, all 35 teachers were present but only 500 of the 1600 student population showed up.
The same situation was witnessed at Shauri Yako Primary School where out of a population of 1,850 learners, less than 100 reported for lessons.
Meanwhile, teachers allied Kuppet vowed not to return to class until the government addresses their demands.
The tutors in Bungoma, Kisii, Eldoret and Mombasa held demonstrations to mark the start of their strike.
Among their demands is the full implementation of Phase Two of the 2021-2025 Collective Bargaining Agreement, the confirmation into Permanent and Pensionable employment of 46,000 Junior Secondary School teachers currently engaged as interns and the promotion of more than 130,000 teachers who have stagnated in one job group for 10 years.
They also want the Teachers Service Commission to submit statutory deductions (NSSF and Bank loans) to third-party institutions as required.