In a pivotal legal move, the Employment and Labour Relations Court in Nairobi has intervened to stop the on going strike by secondary school teachers.
The court’s decision came in response to an urgent application filed by the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) on Monday, August 26.
Justice James Rika, presiding over the case, issued a temporary injunction that prohibits the Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) and its members from withdrawing their labor or engaging in industrial action.
This order is effective immediately and will remain in place until further review on September 5, 2024.
The injunction aims to maintain the status quo and prevent disruptions in the education sector while the court evaluates the case in detail.
The decision underscores the court’s role in balancing labor disputes and public interests, particularly in critical sectors like education.
KUPPET had called for the strike over unresolved grievances with the TSC, but the court’s intervention seeks to ensure that any industrial action is conducted within legal parameters and does not adversely affect students’ learning.
The court will reconvene on September 5 to review the application and determine the next steps. Until then, the teachers are legally bound to continue their duties as usual.
