Teachers and political leaders in Meru County have called on the government to improve teachers’ welfare and strengthen dialogue with unions to avoid future school strikes.
Speaking during a thanksgiving ceremony for newly elected Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) Meru County Branch Executive Secretary Muthomi Njira, leaders lauded teachers for their role in education and urged the union leadership to continue championing members’ rights.
Meru Woman Representative Karambu Kailemia thanked teachers for supporting her leadership and appealed to schools not to send away vulnerable learners sponsored under her education programme.
“As we endeavour to educate our children, I request teachers not to chase away vulnerable children under my sponsorship. I honestly know you have never done so. Thank you,” said Kailemia.
She said she still identifies with the teaching profession, having previously taught at Gikumene Secondary School before joining politics.
“I am one of you because I taught at Gikumene Secondary School some years back before becoming a politician. I still want your support,” she added.
Buuri MP Mugambi Rindikiri and Nominated MP Muthoni Dorothy, who is eyeing the Meru Senate seat, thanked Deputy President Kithure Kindiki for supporting the appointment of former KUPPET official Julius Mbijiwe as Kenya’s Ambassador to the Vatican.
Muthoni urged Njira to remain committed to teachers’ welfare and ensure their grievances are resolved through dialogue rather than industrial action.
“Never depart from the space of teachers because they need you day and night,” she said.
Muthoni recalled the 2015 teachers’ strike, describing it as one of the longest in the country’s history after teachers stayed away from classrooms for five weeks while demanding better pay and working conditions.
“I thank God I was one of the trade union leaders fighting for teachers’ rights. The government later acknowledged that teachers were genuine in what they were demanding and paid them their full salaries,” she said.
She appealed to Deputy President Kindiki to ensure teachers receive their rightful benefits in good time to prevent future confrontations with the government.
“Make sure teachers get what they deserve in the right way and teachers will never have reason to go to the streets,” she said.
Muthoni also expressed confidence in Kindiki’s political future, saying she hopes he will become President in 2032.
Former KUPPET Secretary General Julius Mbijiwe recounted the early struggles of building the union, saying officials worked for months without pay when membership stood at only 400 teachers.
“We sacrificed and worked without salary for four months as we tried to grow the union,” said Mbijiwe.
He said the union later expanded rapidly to more than 4,000 members through aggressive recruitment and mobilisation.
Mbijiwe praised Njira for his leadership in advocating for teachers’ welfare, including addressing challenges related to medical cover, employment terms, and unity within the profession.
“What you have done has never been done,” he told Njira.
He also thanked President William Ruto and Deputy President Kindiki for appointing him Kenya’s Ambassador to the Vatican.
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“I thank President William Ruto and Deputy President Kindiki for having confidence in me and the teachers of this country, proving that a teacher can serve as Ambassador to the Vatican,” said Mbijiwe.
By John Majau
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