Business was disrupted in various counties across Kenya on Monday, August 26, 2024, as teachers took to the streets in protest.
Members of the Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) staged demonstrations demanding that the government meet their demands under the 2021-2025 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).
The strike began early in the morning in Kisii County, where teachers vowed not to return to classrooms until their grievances were addressed.
Teachers from several other counties, including Embu, Kitale, Eldoret, Chuka, Bungoma, Kiambu, Nyeri, Murang’a, Kakamega, Meru, Nyandarua, Vihiga, Busia, and Kajiado, also joined the protests.
They are demanding that the government fulfill the terms of the CBA, which include better medical coverage, career progression, and the confirmation of Junior Secondary School (JSS) teachers currently working as interns.
In Kisii County, the protests were led by Jared Abdi Kinyanjui, the organizing secretary of the KUPPET Kisii branch. He emphasized that teachers would continue striking until the government fulfilled the promises outlined in the CBA.
"We want the government to adhere to the CBA's second phase as we had agreed. We also want them to confirm the 46,000 JSS teachers who are currently operating as interns and to give us promotions as many of our teachers have been stagnated for a very long time," Kinyanjui stated.
Dressed in yellow KUPPET shirts, the teachers marched through the streets, determined to make their voices heard. Their primary concerns included the need for permanent employment for intern teachers, improved medical coverage, and timely promotions for teachers who had been stuck in the same job group for over a decade.
In Bungoma County, teachers assembled at Bungoma High School and made sure that no teacher or student entered the school compound.
The protestors promised to move from school to school, ensuring that no teaching activities resumed until their demands were met.
Their frustration was evident as they expressed dissatisfaction with the slow progress in implementing the CBA agreements.
One of the major concerns in Bungoma, as in other counties, was the confirmation of the JSS teachers. Many of these teachers have been working as interns under difficult conditions, with no assurance of permanent employment.
The teachers also decried the lack of promotions, which had left 130,000 of their colleagues stagnant in the same job groups for over a decade.
In Mombasa, teachers gathered in the Central Business District (CBD) to join the nationwide protest. However, their demonstrations were temporarily halted by the police, who attempted to stop them from continuing with the strike. Despite this, the teachers managed to convince the police to allow them to proceed peacefully with their demonstrations.
The Mombasa protestors echoed the same demands as their counterparts in other parts of the country, calling for the confirmation of intern JSS teachers and the implementation of the CBA agreements. They expressed their determination to continue with the strike until their grievances were fully addressed.
The protests in various counties all pointed to the same issues. The teachers are demanding the revamping of their medical covers, as they feel that the current medical insurance does not adequately cater to their needs. They also want the government to review their career progression and ensure that promotions are timely and fair.
Another significant issue raised by the protestors was the remittance of funds to the AON insurance scheme.
Many teachers feel that the delays in remitting these funds have caused unnecessary financial strain, especially for those in need of medical services.
Additionally, teachers are calling for the immediate payment of retirement benefits to those who have retired from public service.
The teachers also expressed concern over third-party deductions, which they claim have not been released on time.
These deductions, which include loans and savings with financial institutions, are vital for many teachers, and delays in their release have led to financial difficulties.
The teachers called upon the newly appointed Cabinet Secretary for Education, Julius Migos Ogamba, to step in and fight for their rights. They urged him to ensure that the government adheres to the CBA agreements and fulfills its promises to the teaching fraternity.
Ogamba, who was sworn in earlier in August 2024, is now under pressure to address these concerns and find a solution that will allow teachers to return to their duties. Teachers across the country are hoping that his intervention will bring about positive changes in their working conditions.
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