The Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) has announced that the ongoing teachers’ strike will continue despite a crucial meeting held today with the Cabinet Secretary for Labour, Hon. Dr. Alfred Mutua.
The union’s decision reflects their commitment to addressing all outstanding issues before considering any resolution to the strike.
In his remarks following the meeting, KUPPET Secretary General Akelo Misori praised the teachers for their unity and perseverance throughout the strike today.
Misori underscored that the strike would persist until the union’s demands were fully met, demonstrating the teachers’ steadfast commitment to their cause.
His statement reaffirmed KUPPET’s position that only a comprehensive resolution to all issues would lead to a suspension of the strike.
The meeting, which took place earlier today, highlighted both the union’s determination to resolve longstanding issues and the government’s commitment to finding a resolution.
Dr. Mutua assured the KUPPET National Executive Board of his active involvement in the ongoing negotiations, indicating that extensive consultations within the government were underway to resolve the strike swiftly.
However, KUPPET expressed significant frustration with the Teachers Service Commission (TSC), which has not met any of the union’s demands, a central issue in the current dispute.
Contrary to some media reports, the TSC failed to fulfill promises regarding the implementation of the 2021-2025 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) by the August 21 deadline.
This failure has been a major source of tension between the union and the TSC.
KUPPET criticized the TSC for its narrow focus during a recent meeting held at the Kenya School of Government, which primarily addressed the CBA and neglected other critical grievances raised by the union.
This limited scope of discussion prompted KUPPET to issue a formal Strike Notice, escalating the dispute.
During the meeting, Dr. Mutua’s team, which included Chief Industrial Relations Officer Ms. Muli and conciliator Mr. Richard Litaba, reviewed KUPPET’s concerns in detail.
Several potential solutions were proposed, and Dr. Mutua committed to presenting these solutions to the TSC later in the day.
A notable breakthrough was achieved concerning teachers in acting positions.
Dr. Mutua agreed that these teachers should be compensated according to existing regulations, leading KUPPET to file a standalone complaint to address this issue.
Despite this progress, two major issues remain unresolved: the provision of Teachers’ Medical Cover and the confirmation of 46,000 intern teachers.
Dr. Mutua stated that he would determine his position on these matters by Tuesday morning after further consultations with the TSC and the Cabinet Secretaries for Education and Finance.
Dr. Mutua requested that KUPPET consider suspending the strike while negotiations continued.
In response, KUPPET clarified that the decision to call off the strike would be made by the National Governing Council and would depend on satisfactory progress on all key issues.
A follow-up meeting with the Minister is anticipated either tomorrow or Wednesday, contingent on the outcome of his ongoing consultations.
As the strike continues, the situation remains fluid, with both sides working to bridge the gaps and reach an agreement that satisfies all parties involved.
The coming days are expected to be critical in determining the future of the strike and the resolution of the teachers’ grievances.
In his closing remarks, KUPPET Secretary General Misori reiterated his appreciation for the teachers’ unity and perseverance.
He emphasized that the strike would persist until a comprehensive resolution to all outstanding issues is achieved, reflecting the teachers’ unwavering commitment to their demands.
As negotiations progress, the resolution of the strike and the teachers’ grievances remain the focus of both the union and the government.
