KNUT demands Ksh.10.1B slashed from TSC budget reinstated, threatens action

The Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) has urged the Kenya Kwanza government to reinstate Ksh.10.1 billion slashed from the Teachers Service Commission's (TSC) budget for the financial year 2024/25 following the withdrawal of the contentious Finance Bill 2024/25.

In a statement signed by KNUT Secretary General Collins Oyuu, the Union decried that despite efforts by TSC to convince both the National Assembly's Departmental Committee on Education and Research and the Budget and Appropriation Committee on why its Ksh.357,773,737,118 budget for the period should not be cut, the Treasury has reduced it to Ksh.347,492,589,260.

According to Oyuu, the budget cut will affect the implementation of the second phase of a Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) between the TSC and KNUT. The CBA was signed in 2021, reviewed in 2023 and appropriately factored into the 2021/2025 contractual spending of the state.

"The CBA in question is a legal and binding document which was signed between TSC and KNUT in 2021, and rightly deposited in the Employment and Labour Relations Court — hence, there is no way the National Treasury which is fully aware of the existence and content of the Agreement can backtrack on the CBA by failing to fund adequately TSC to meet it contractual obligations as regards implementing 2021/2025 Collective Bargaining Agreement," Oyuu said.  

"The implementation of the 2021/2025 teachers' CBA should not whatsoever be tied on Finance Bill, 2024 nor Appropriation Bill, 2024 as the TSC/KNUT Agreement was negotiated and signed in 2021, reviewed in 2023 and appropriately factored in the 2021/2025 contractual spendings of the National Government. Thus, the National Treasury has zero option but to fund TSC adequately to meet its financial obligations."

Further, Oyuu urged the national exchequer to restore the slashed funds, highlighting that the reduction amounts to violation of the CBA.

"It should be noted that as is, the CBA has not been withdrawn by the two parties (TSC and KNUT), hence the Agreement has to be implemented to the letter. To this end, the National Government should live up to its promise of awarding teachers the second phase salary increment as stipulated in the amended 2021/2025 CBA," he said.

"Teachers would not accept anything short of the 2nd phase of the 2.5% to 9% salary increment awarded in 2023 since it would be an act of treachery, breach of contract and a violation of teachers' labour rights."

Additionally, the KNUT Secretary General warned that the Union will move to court if its demands are not met.

"KNUT therefore calls on TSC to use all means within its reach to ensure that the Agreement which is legal and still binding is honoured through compelling the National Assembly to approve TSC's Shs357,773,737,118 Budget without amendment failure to which the Union will use all legal means within her disposal to ensure full compliance," he said.