Education Cabinet Secretary (CS) Nominee Julius Migos Ogamba hopes that teachers will agree to defer implementation of the second phase of Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) 2021-2025 with the Teachers Service Commission (TSC).
Ogamba stated that the government’s available resources decreased due to the withdrawal of the Finance Bill 2024 and the court ruling that deemed the Finance Act 2023 unconstitutional.
During his vetting before MPs yesterday, Ogamba stated that the potential teachers’ strike would be contingent upon the implementation of the CBA.
“We should have a clear and forthright discussion with unions and come up with solutions because they also live in this country,” he said.
He pointed out that amid the Covid-19 pandemic, teacher unions and the TSC reached an agreement to sign a non-monetary CBA.
“It was not possible to sign a monetary CBA at the time. It gives me hope that these are Kenyans and they see the situation on the ground,” he said.
“We will agree and come up with a working return formula even if it is to defer some of their demands so that they do not go on strike.”
A house committee had previously issued a warning that teachers might resort to strikes due to the government’s decision to reduce the recurrent budget of TSC by Ksh10.2 billion.
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According to the Departmental Committee on Education’s report on the Financial Year 2024-25 Supplementary Budget Estimates No. 1 for the Ministry of Education and TSC, a total reduction in funding included Ksh10 billion allocated for the implementation of the CBA between the commission and teachers’ unions.
“The implication of this is that teachers will not receive salary increments envisaged in the CBA,” committee chair Julius Melly said in the report.
Melly warned that the budget reduction could result in industrial unrest, affecting teaching and learning in public schools and potentially leading to legal disputes in court.
“Industrial unrest is something which this government may not which to deal with at this time given the current unease situation in the country hence the need to ensure that this allocation is provided,” the committee advised.
By Frank Mugwe
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