- Knut and Kuppet officials have insisted that parents should not send their children to schools from Monday.
- Lecturers have also said they will down tools from next month when te new academic year begins.
Image: FILE
The country is set to be thrown into paralysis in the coming days as various sector players declared strikes including teachers, Matatu operators, lecturers and civil servants.
The looming industrial actions could pose a major headache to the Kenya Kwanza administration, which is smarting from deadly anti-government protests that put the country on edge.
Teachers in primary and secondary schools are expected to begin their strike on Monday when schools are expected to reopen for the Third Term.
The Kenya National Union of Teachers (Knut), and the Kenya Union of Post Primary Teachers (Kuppet) have asked their members to keep off classrooms from Monday.
Negotiations between the teachers and the Teachers Service Commission failed to hammer a deal on Wednesday after the unions rejected the employer’s offer.
They claimed that their issues were not being addressed comprehensively, signalling tough times ahead for learners.
As of Friday, the teachers’ unions had insisted that the strike is on and that unless TSC agrees to implement all their demands, no learning will take place in public schools.
Teachers unions are yet to call off the nationwide strike despite the government's agreement to implement the Collective Bargaining Agreement, backdated to July 1.
“There will be no learning in public schools from Monday and we ask parents to keep their children at home," said Knut secretary general Collis Oyuu.
The official said the teachers would only accept to call off their strike should the employer agree to all the conditions set by the union.
“We have insisted that there is no deal yet, we want the government to implement all the contentious issues including promoting the 130,000 teachers," he said.
Parents are pleading with teachers not to go on with their planned strike ahead of schools re-opening for the third term next week.
The National Parents Association chairperson Silas Obuhatsa on Friday said the strike will paralyze learning yet candidates are expected to sit for their final exams.
"We are asking the teacher unions that they are also parents. They have to understand that our children have suffered because of floods and the Gen Z demonstrations and now teachers strike because of things that can be resolved later," Obuhatsa told the Star.
"We are requesting the unions to consider having teachers back in class. We are also calling on the TSC to ensure that all teachers are in class next week because they have been paid and as parents, we cannot allow children to stay in class without teachers."
Government operations could also face a total shutdown as public servants threatened to strike unless an agreed pay rise is implemented.
The enhanced pay is contained in the Collective Bargain Agreement negotiated between the workers and the government.
The second phase of the agreement was to start on July 1, 2024, but the government maintains it has no money to effect the increase.
The public officers under the Union of Kenya Civil Servants (UKCS) have, however, termed the implementation of Phase II of the CBA non-negotiable.
UKCS secretary general Tom Odege said they would paralyse government operations if the state does not honour its part of the bargain.
“We are not renegotiating anything. They either give us money or we withdraw our services,” Odege, who is also Nyatike MP, said.
At the same time, the Universities Academic Staff Union (Uasu) has also issued notice to go on strike over delays and non-payment of salaries.
The union has called for a national strike when the next academic year begins in September, threatening to paralyse learning in public universities.
Uasu Secretary General Constantine Wesonga said on Thursday that lecturers will be going on strike when the new academic year starts in September.
Wesonga claimed that universities do not remit statutory deductions including loans, pensions and other third parties.
“It is insensitive and inconsiderate. This has brought disrespect and embarrassment to our members," Wesonga said.
He argued that some Uasu members have been sued by lending institutions over loan defaults for failing to service loans through the check-off system.
Besides the teachers, the Motorists Association of Kenya has announced a countrywide Matatu strike on Monday, August 26, as they seek the government to address the issues affecting the transport sector.
The strike could hit hard the public transport sector that serves over 90 per cent of Kenyan commuters across the country at a time when are scheduled to open for the final term in this academic year.
The association listed five key issues that are hurting the Matatu sector; fuel levy, insurance, auctioneers and regulation of microfinance, police and county harassment, and incompetency.
The government's move to increase the Road Maintenance Levy from Sh18 per litre to Sh25 for every litre of fuel has received stiff opposition from different stakeholders calling for its reversal.
Further, the association called for insurance companies to pay claims on time as per the law.
They also demanded auctioneers and microfinance be regulated to prevent unlawful auctions.
Meanwhile, the University of Nairobi Student Council has issued a notice for a protest on September 2, due to the new university funding model.
In a statement, student president Madzao Rocah rejected the model imposed by the government.
“On September 2, 2024, we must come together for a mega demonstration to make our voices heard,” Rocah said.
The new framework will replace the Differentiated Unit Cost previously used to finance universities.
Unveiled by President William Ruto on May 3, the model is designed to ensure that all eligible students in public universities and Technical and Vocational Education institutions receive adequate educational financial support.
It will be implemented in five funding models.
“Furthermore, we must reject the new funding model imposed upon us. Our education is not a commodity to be exploited for profit,” he said.