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KNUT Eastern Region has rejected the TSC’s proposed introduction of teaching licences and their renewal every five years, insisting that professional development should be facilitated through free training instead.
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Led Simon Nding’o, the union said they are not opposed to professional development, but instead of introducing renewable licences, TSC should organize free workshops for teachers.
The Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) Eastern Region has rejected the Teachers Service Commission’s (TSC) proposed introduction of teaching licences and their renewal every five years, insisting that professional development should be facilitated through free training instead.
Speaking during the official opening of the Eastern Region Music Festival at ACK Wote Township Comprehensive School in Makueni County, where more than 6,000 learners are participating, KNUT Eastern Region Chairman Simon Nding’o said the union would not support the proposed licensing framework.
“We are not opposed to professional development, but instead of introducing renewable licences, TSC should organize free workshops for teachers. Teachers should not be required to pay for such training,” said Nding’o.
Nding’o also raised concerns over delayed payments to Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) examiners, saying many teachers who supervised, invigilated and marked examinations during the December 2025 examination period were yet to receive their dues.
“We are now in July, at the close of the 2025/26 financial year. We are aware that the supplementary budget made provisions for these payments, and we want KNEC to ensure the teachers are paid without further delay,” he said.
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He recalled that teachers had earlier been assured that examiners would be paid immediately after completing examination marking and urged KNEC to honour that commitment.
The union also expressed concern over challenges teachers continue to face under the Social Health Authority (SHA), alleging that some health facilities are still demanding payments from teachers despite existing medical cover arrangements.
“We want to inform our teachers that if any hospital asks you to pay for treatment, report the matter immediately to KNUT officials at the sub-county, branch or county level. We shall forward such cases to SHA headquarters because we have already engaged SHA directors, the CEO and the Ministry of Education, who assured us that teachers should receive treatment without paying,” Nding’o said.
On teachers’ welfare, the KNUT official welcomed the implementation of the second phase of the 2025-2029 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), which takes effect from July 1, describing it as a significant milestone for teachers.
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However, he urged the government to merge and implement the remaining two phases of the CBA simultaneously to enable teachers to fully benefit from the agreement sooner.
Nding’o also commended the government for recruiting 20,000 teachers, saying the commitment to employ them on permanent and pensionable terms from January 1, 2027, was encouraging. He noted that Ksh4.9 billion had been allocated for the exercise.
He further welcomed President William Ruto’s assurance that an additional 24,000 teachers would be recruited, saying the move would significantly reduce the staffing shortage in schools.
“If the additional recruitment is effected, the total number of teachers employed will rise to 124,000, which is a positive step towards addressing the teacher shortage,” he said.
Despite acknowledging the government’s efforts in improving teachers’ welfare, Nding’o urged both the government and the TSC to strictly implement the provisions of the 2025-2029 CBA and honour all agreements reached with the teaching fraternity.
By Lydia Ngoolo
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