- Nyamira County says learning in public ECDE centres remains uninterrupted despite an ongoing teachers’ strike.
- Education CEC Emily Ongaga has urged striking teachers to embrace dialogue as they press for better employment terms.
- KUNOPPET officials have cited low pay, stalled promotions, insecure employment and poor working conditions among their grievances.
Learning in public ECDE centres in Nyamira County is going on smoothly despite a strike by ECDE teachers, County Education CEC Emily Ongaga has said.
Ms Ongaga was responding to the recent industrial action by the Kenya Union of Pre-Primary Education Teachers (KUNOPPET) Nyamira Branch, which listed several grievances over poor pay and working conditions.
In their notice signed by Chairman Kasmirl Mose, Secretary Eunice Momanyi and Treasurer Linet Nyakundi, the teachers decried non-payment of salary increments recommended by the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) since March 2023, low pay of between Sh12,000 and Sh18,000 for diploma and certificate holders, lack of permanent and pensionable employment after serving for more than five years on casual contracts without medical cover or pension, lack of promotion for teachers who have upgraded their qualifications, and poor working conditions characterised by lack of proper classrooms, desks and learning materials.
County downplays strike
However, Ms Ongaga downplayed the strike, saying only a few teachers had declared their intention to participate.
She asked them to shelve their plans and embrace dialogue, saying her office is open for talks to address their concerns amicably.
She assured parents that learning had not been disrupted in any public ECDE centre.
The County Government has separately said KUNOPPET has 93 members among Nyamira’s 882 ECDE teachers and argued that the union does not meet the threshold required for a recognition agreement. Ongaga said the county administration remains open to dialogue through lawful channels.
Teachers press county over grievances
The dispute follows the expiry of a strike notice issued by KUNOPPET. On Monday, August 24, branch officials Mose, Momanyi and Nyakundi told Education News that their members had begun industrial action and would remain out of classrooms until their grievances were addressed.
The union’s position therefore contrasts with the county government’s assertion that learning has continued normally across public ECDE centres.
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Nyamira County’s official website confirms Ongaga as the County Executive Committee Member responsible for Education and Vocational Training.
By Enock Okongo
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