Standoff as TSC demands KUPPET calls off teachers' strike before negotiations

The Teachers’ Service Commission (TSC) is now demanding that secondary school teachers call off their strike before they can engage in any talks.

This comes after the Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) requested to meet with the commission on Thursday afternoon to discuss a return-to-work formula.

The letter addressed to TSC CEO Dr. Nancy Macharia, came even as teachers across the country staged demonstrations, rejecting, among other things, the salary increment announced by the commission, terming it insignificant and a mockery of their profession.

The strike entered day 4 despite a court order that suspended the strike pending the determination of a case filed by TSC on Monday.

Citizen TV visited Daraja Mbili Secondary School in Kitutu Chache South Constituency, Kisii County, where ordinarily, being the beginning of the shortest term in the academic calendar, it would have been a beehive of activities.

But on Thursday, it was dead silent as teachers stayed away from the classrooms, leaving learners unattended, a few utilizing the time to study on their own as the back and forth between KUPPET and TSC continued.

In his letter, which came days after a court order was issued suspending the teachers' strike, KUPPET Secretary General Akelo Misori insisted that the union is a law-abiding institution that was ready to resolve the emerging issues amicably.

In response, TSC demanded that the teachers must first obey the court order and call off their strike before they can engage in any talks.

The commission insisted that it had implemented the final phase of the 2021-2025 CBA and had paid the teachers' salary arrears backdated to 1/7/2024.

Further, TSC said that it has resolved all the grievances raised by the union in a letter dated 19/8/2024.

This even as teachers vowed to stay put, staging demonstrations in several parts of the country.

Teachers in Kisii County painted the streets yellow as they marched in protest with their grievances boldly inscribed on placards.

The teachers shut down the town, paralyzing transport as they marched carrying a casket in protest. They rejected the salary increment announced by the TSC, terming it insignificant.

A similar standoff was witnessed in Lamu County, where teachers accused the TSC of what they termed as backtracking on some of their previous agreements.

In Vihiga County, the teachers demanded, among other things, that the statutory deductions be remitted to the respective institutions and the alignment of the teachers’ medical cover under a functional scheme.

Similar concerns were raised by teachers in Machakos County, who staged demonstrations in three sub-counties.

The teachers are demanding promotions and acting allowance for those serving in acting positions.

In Nandi County, JSS teachers joined the demonstrations by KUPPET teachers as they pushed for the immediate confirmation of 46,000 intern JSS teachers.