- Knut called off their strike on Sunday hours after 68 Kuppet National Executive Council members ratified the decision for their members to go on strike.
- The High Court suspended the post-primary education teachers' strike called by Kuppet.
Image: PCS /FIE
The Central Organisation of Trade Unions (COTU-K) has called out the Teachers Service Commission for allegedly ignoring issues raised by the teachers union.
Cotu Secretary General Francis Atwoli said the government has kept its end of the bargain by accepting to pay.
In what he termed 'bullying', Atwoli said the commission should address issues raised by the Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (Kuppet).
The Cotu boss said that failure to sign the return-to-work formula, Kuppet will continue with their strike.
"The government has already accepted to pay and there is no need for our children not to be in cases, I'm appealing to TSC to make sure that they are in touch with the Kuppet union today they sign a return-to-work formula. If they don't do so, eventually there might be victimisation for those teachers who had organised the strike," Atwoli said.
Speaking during a press conference on Wednesday, the Cotu boss said TSC should address Kuppet by signing the return to work formula.
"We ask TSC to humble itself and revert to the requirement and the tenets of the mandate that their recognition agreement between Kuppet and TSC as management and as a commission is required to do," Atwoli said.
"They are in a marriage, there is no bullying of one another, they need not bully Kuppet, they need to humble themselves and sign the agreement on a return to work."
The schools’ reopening coincided with the start of the nationwide strike by teachers allied to Kuppet after their counterparts—the Kenya National Union of Teachers (Knut)—called off their job boycott on Sunday.
Their demands include full implementation of the second phase of their 2021–25 CBA, the promotion of 130,000 teachers, the absorption of 46,000 JSS teachers on permanent and pensionable terms, and the remittance of loans and statutory deductions to relevant agencies.
While calling off their strike, Knut said the teacher employer—TSC, had demonstrated goodwill, including effecting promotions of 51,232 teachers thus far in a process that is still ongoing.
“That decision was timely because it has enabled the re-opening of schools. I commend them for reading the mood of the nation and acting with selfless patriotism,” Education CS Julius Ogamba said while commending Knut.
He said Sh28.1 billion in capitation for primary, junior and secondary schools for third terms has also been disbursed to schools to enable smooth running of operations.
“I therefore call upon the Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (Kuppet), to review their stance and to call off their strike. The government has demonstrated goodwill and readiness to address all the issues raised. We therefore see no reason for confrontation,” CS Ogamba said.
Knut called off their strike on Sunday hours after 68 Kuppet National Executive Council members ratified the decision for their members to go on strike.
“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.
The High Court suspended the post-primary education teachers' strike called by Kuppet pending the hearing and determination of a case filed by TSC.
Justice James Rika of the Employment and Labour Relations Court in Nairobi issued the orders on Tuesday.
Most schools have since recorded low turnout and empty classes as the Kuppet vows strike is on.