Public secondary schools in Kenya are on the verge of closing after teachers issued a seven-day ultimatum to the government, demanding the immediate release of delayed capitation funds or face a potential nationwide education crisis.
While addressing the Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) National Governing Council on July 11, 2025, Secretary-General Akelo Misori said that schools were struggling to remain operational due to inadequate government funding.
He pointed out that school heads are unable to meet critical operational costs, especially as many parents are unable to pay fees in the current economic climate.
“Principals are struggling to keep learners in school. They have waited for the government to release capitation funds, but it is taking too long. Due to the current economic hardships, many parents have been unable to pay their school fees.
If nothing is done soon, it will be impossible to keep these schools running. The only viable option left may be to send students home,” Misori cautioned.
Misori revealed that only Ksh4,000 per student has been disbursed since January, despite schools needing Ksh22,244 per learner. This funding gap, he said, has undermined key services, including school feeding, utilities, learning resources, and co-curricular programmes.
“From January to now, only Ksh4,000 has been released per student. That is drastically below the required amount. Schools need to cover the costs of food, water, electricity, teaching materials, and co-curricular activities. Without proper funding, all these essential services are at risk,” he said.
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He further criticised the government’s silence, noting that principals are being forced to run schools under immense pressure without adequate staff or financial support. Misori warned that teachers were ready to take action if the situation remains unresolved.
KUPPET also expressed concern over stalled Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) talks with the Teachers Service Commission (TSC).
Misori noted that although the union had submitted its proposals, there had been no formal response, despite the current agreement nearing expiration on June 30, 2025. The union has now appealed to Labour Cabinet Secretary Alfred Mutua for intervention.
“Our proposal is already with the TSC, but they have not responded. We are not ready to accept anything that does not improve the welfare of our members,” Misori said.
Among its demands, the union is pushing for a 50 percent salary hike for teachers in higher job groups and a 100 per cent raise for those in lower grades. Additional demands include a 20 percent general salary increase, harmonised housing allowances, and significant boosts to commuter, hardship, and co-curricular allowances.
“In our proposed CBA, we are also asking for a 200 per cent increase in commuter allowance for higher grades and a 250 per cent increase for lower cadres. These teachers are incurring significant transport costs, especially those working in rural and remote areas,” Misori added.
KUPPET is also proposing a 100 percent rise in hardship allowances and a hazardous duty allowance equal to 20 per cent of a teacher’s basic salary, especially for educators working in high-risk, insecure regions.
The union further advocated for subsistence allowances for teachers involved in extracurricular activities such as music, sports, and academic events. They also want policy reforms on leave allowances, suggesting that teachers receive one month’s basic pay instead of a fixed amount, and call for risk and overtime allowances for those serving in conflict-prone northern and eastern Kenya.
KUPPET National Chairperson Omboko Milemba echoed Misori’s sentiments and asked TSC, Ministry of Labour, and Parliamentary Education Committee to act decisively to avoid the collapse of the school operations.
“We must treat teachers with the dignity they deserve. They are the backbone of our education system. Ignoring their plight will only deepen the crisis in our schools,” said Milemba.
He also slammed proposed plans to eliminate the national examination fee subsidy, warning it would violate children’s right to education and exclude learners from low-income households.
“Examination fees are a critical component of basic education. Removing them undermines Article 53 of the Constitution, which guarantees every child the right to free and compulsory education. If we start charging exam fees again, we will be locking out thousands of poor children from progressing in their education,” he warned.
With pressure mounting from teachers and school leaders, KUPPET has issued a strong warning: if the government fails to act within the week, schools across the country may be forced to close, sending millions of learners home.
By Joseph Mambili
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