The National Chairman of the Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers(KUPPET), Omboko Milemba who is also the Member of Parliament(MP) for Emuhaya, has called for the reinstatement of Ksh13.5 billion intended for the implementation of the second phase of the 2021-2025 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).
Speaking in Parliament yesterday, Milemba wondered why the money which was allocated to Teachers Service Commission (TSC) was among those that were affected by budget cuts occasioned by rejection of the Finance Bill 2024.
“We must make an amendment to this budget to include the Ksh13.5 Billion for the CBA of the teachers,” said Milemba.
He also warned that if the funds are not reinstated into the budget, teachers will have no choice but to strike.
According to the MP, the teachers are expecting none other than the four key issues that they have raised: the reinstatement of phase 2 of the CBA which would cost Ksh13.5billion, medical cover for teachers which would cost Ksh15billion, promotion of teachers which would require Ksh1.5billion and employing of all 46,000 Junior Secondary School (JSS) teachers.
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“When you look at the budget of Teachers Service Commission, it has been cut on its recurrent expenditure by exactly Ksh10billion meaning that all the teachers of Kenya are not going to get their full CBA as had been agreed by the government,” said Milemba.
“The Budget chair and his members cannot ignore the issue at hand. I have talked to economists and it is imperative to make amendments to the supplementary budget to allocate Ksh13.5 billion towards implementing Phase Two of the teachers’ CBA and an additional Ksh15 billion to cater for medical cover. Failing to address this promptly could result in teachers taking to the streets as early as next week,” he added.
By Frank Mugwe
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