The Kenya Union of Technical and Vocational Education Trainers (KUTVET) has announced the revival of its planned nationwide strike, directing trainers to down their tools effective November 18, 2026, over alleged failure by the Ministry of Education to honour commitments made during a conciliation meeting.
In a letter dated November 12, 2026, and addressed to the Cabinet Secretary for Education, the union's Secretary General, Kepher Oguwi, said the decision followed the State Department for Vocational and Technical Education's alleged failure to implement resolutions reached during a meeting held on October 19, 2026.
The meeting, which was conducted under the guidance of a conciliator from the Ministry of Labour, had resulted in KUTVET suspending its planned industrial action that was scheduled to begin on October 20, 2026.
However, the union now accuses the State Department of reneging on the agreements, prompting it to revive the strike.
The union accused the department of proceeding with the introduction of three human resource instruments without involving the union, describing the process as unconstitutional and unlawful. It warned that the instruments could have far reaching implications for trainers.
The union also claimed that the Human Resource Director had failed to implement the deduction and remittance of union dues to KUTVET, contrary to the commitments made during the conciliation meeting.
KUTVET also raised concerns over the continued emailing of examination papers to institutions by the Ministry, arguing that the practice threatens the credibility and integrity of examinations.
"Consequently, we have now informed our members that the strike, which had been suspended following the conciliation efforts, has now been revived and that all trainers will down their tools, effective from 18 November 2026," Oguwi stated in the letter.
The union maintained that the industrial action would continue until the Ministry addresses all the outstanding issues.
KUTVET also indicated that it had attached a copy of the State Department's commitments made during the October 19 conciliation meeting as evidence of the agreements reached.
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