The Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) has created a new position of Junior Secondary School (JSS) Secretary in its branch and national structure to represent over 46,000 JSS teachers recently recruited by the Ministry of Education.
The move is part of KUPPET’s ongoing restructuring aimed at expanding its financial base and shutting out rival unions, including the Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) and the Union of Teachers of Special Needs, from enrolling JSS tutors.
Under the new structure, JSS teachers will now participate, vote, and contest in union elections, with the new position running from the branch to the national level.
The decision comes amid rising tension between JSS tutors and headteachers in primary schools, with graduate teachers citing harassment, segregation, and threats of unfair transfers. Some have accused school heads of writing show-cause letters and transferring them to far-flung areas as punishment, while non-graduate colleagues remain in one station for years.
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KUPPET, formed over 20 years ago to represent secondary school teachers, has also added other posts at county level, including 1st Assistant Gender Secretary, 2nd Assistant Gender Secretary, and Special Needs Secretary. The Special Needs docket follows a deal with the Union of Teachers of Special Needs to accommodate incapacitated members.
The restructuring will affect ongoing Annual General Meetings (AGMs) leading to the 2026 national polls. Nomination fees for key positions have also been doubled, with candidates for Executive Secretary required to pay Ksh 200,000, chairperson and treasurer Ksh 100,000 each, while other posts will cost Ksh 10,000.
The increment has drawn protests from women aspirants, who fear it will lock out younger members and leave the leadership to retired teachers. The High Court is yet to rule on a case challenging a constitutional amendment by top KUPPET officials allowing retired teachers above 60 years to contest union seats.
By Abisai Amugune
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