About 46,000 Junior Secondary School (JSS) teachers are threatening to withdraw from the Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET), citing a lack of representation and neglect of their professional welfare.
Each teacher contributes 2% of their basic salary (Ksh890) monthly, totaling Ksh41 million to the union. Teachers say KUPPET prioritizes collecting dues over advocating for their rights.
The teachers, organized under the Kenya Junior School Teachers Association (KEJUSTA), claim KUPPET has failed to support their push for professional and administrative autonomy in junior schools.
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“Kuppet has shown more interest in our contributions than in our welfare. We are being denied meaningful representation despite our numbers,” said KEJUSTA Chairperson James Odhiambo.
Odhiambo added that KUPPET declined to fund KEJUSTA’s legal petition to the National Assembly and has changed its position on supporting junior school autonomy.
A senior KUPPET official defended the union, saying members have representation slots in upcoming elections and the union continues to engage with the Teachers Service Commission (TSC).
“Joining or leaving a union is a choice,” the official noted.
KUPPET Chairman Omboko Milemba confirmed that a meeting with TSC is scheduled to discuss key issues, including confirmation of 20,000 interns into permanent roles and the junior school promotion matrix.
By Mercy Kokwon
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