Teachers Issue Fresh Strike Warning Over Unfulfilled TSC Promises

By Wasike Elvis

World Teachers’ Day celebrations at Moi Girls High School Eldoret turned into a heated forum as teachers and union officials from across the North Rift raised concerns over career stagnation, salaries, SHA, school funding and an alleged mass transfer of KNUT members to KUPPET.

The celebrations brought together teachers from the North Rift region, with Teachers Service Commission (TSC) Vice Chairperson Sharon J. Kisire serving as the chief guest.

One of the major issues that dominated the celebrations was the alleged transfer of more than 15,000 KNUT members to KUPPET without their knowledge or consent.

Wareng KNUT Branch Secretary Simon Tuwei accused the Teachers Service Commission of moving teachers, particularly Junior Secondary School (JSS) teachers, from KNUT to KUPPET without giving them an opportunity to make their own decision on union membership.

Tuwei warned that KNUT members would take action if the issue was not addressed, including demonstrations at TSC headquarters in Nairobi.

KNUT National Trustee and Nandi East (Tindiret) Executive Secretary Boniface Tenai also questioned the movement of teachers between the two unions, saying teachers should be allowed to make their own decisions regarding union membership.

However, KUPPET Uasin Gishu Executive Secretary Elijah Maiyo defended the union and said KUPPET was ready to represent teachers who were members of the union.

Maiyo said KUPPET's focus remained on addressing the welfare and working conditions of teachers, regardless of the ongoing disagreements between the two unions.

He also raised several concerns affecting teachers, including delays in the employment of newly recruited teachers.

According to Maiyo, some newly employed teachers take between three and four months before they are fully placed on the payroll, leaving them to struggle financially during the period.

He said the situation was particularly difficult for teachers who had already reported to their stations and started working but had not yet received their salaries.

Maiyo further raised concerns over access to the Social Health Authority (SHA), saying newly employed teachers who have not yet been fully processed can face challenges accessing healthcare services.

He urged the relevant authorities to ensure newly recruited teachers are promptly placed on the payroll and covered under the health insurance system.

The KUPPET official also highlighted challenges facing retired teachers, saying some former teachers take too long to receive their retirement benefits after leaving service.

Maiyo called for faster processing of retirement claims so that teachers who have dedicated many years to the education sector can receive their benefits without unnecessary delays.

He further called for continued dialogue between teachers, unions and TSC in addressing challenges affecting the profession.

Rift Valley KNUT representative John Koech thanked President William Ruto for improved security in the North Rift but said teachers continued to face serious challenges in their careers.

Koech said many teachers had stagnated in job groups, particularly those in C1-C2 and C2-C3, despite having served for long periods.

He also raised concerns over teachers working in marginalised areas who have stayed for years without being employed by TSC.

KNUT NEC member Simon Tuei called for World Teachers’ Day to be declared a national holiday in recognition of the contribution teachers make to the country.

Tuei also raised concerns over SHA and called on TSC to promote teachers who have remained in one job group for many years.

He further said teachers should be free to choose whether to belong to KNUT or KUPPET.

Rift Valley KUPPET Regional Chairman Francis Wanyoike said teachers were unhappy with delays in addressing their grievances, particularly the implementation of the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).

Wanyoike said teachers had previously met President William Ruto at State House, where discussions were held on reducing the CBA implementation to two phases.

He said teachers had expected the agreed payments by June 30 but were still waiting for the implementation.

Wanyoike also said some teachers had remained in the same job group for between 10 and 15 years despite being qualified for promotion.

He called for teachers to be promoted based on their qualifications and experience without unnecessary conditions.

Uasin Gishu JSS representative Vincent called for commuter allowances for JSS teachers and greater autonomy for the section. 

He said JSS teachers were seeking an independent framework to support quality teaching and learning, including direct allocation of capitation funds.

KUPPET Uasin Gishu Chairman Sosthene Bellat raised concerns over delays in school capitation, saying some principals were forced to seek financial support from teachers to keep schools running.

Bellat also criticised delays in payments to KNEC examination markers, saying some teachers who participated in last year's examinations were paid much later.

He called for examination markers to receive better allowances based on their job groups.

Julius Chepsoi, representing teachers working with learners with special needs, said special schools were facing financial challenges due to inadequate capitation.

He called for enhanced allowances for teachers working in special schools and implementation of promised improvements in their grading.

Responding to the concerns, TSC Vice Chairperson Sharon J. Kisire said the commission was aware of the challenges facing teachers and was working on measures to address them.

KNUT officials addressing press after attending World Teachers Celebrations Day at Moi Girls High School Eldoret Thursday.

Kisire said teacher promotions had been taking place and noted that the government had provided for the confirmation of teachers and recruitment of more than 20,000 additional teachers. 

She said more teachers were expected to be recruited through future budget allocations to address staffing shortages.

On SHA, Kisire acknowledged that teachers had experienced technical challenges but maintained that the system was operational.

She said frameworks were being developed to address the challenges and improve service delivery.

The World Teachers’ Day celebrations therefore became more than a celebration of teachers, with union officials using the platform to demand reforms touching on teachers’ employment, promotion, salaries, healthcare, retirement benefits, union membership and the funding of schools and JSS.

The debate over the alleged movement of KNUT members to KUPPET is also expected to remain a major issue between the two unions and TSC as teachers seek clarity on their union membership and representation.