Thousands of teachers in Nyeri affiliated to Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) today demonstrated as their nationwide strike enters day one.
The teachers marched through the streets of Nyeri Town, chanting slogans and carrying placards and accusing the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) of not honouring the 2021-2025 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).
According to the branch Secretary Francis Wanjohi, parents should not send their children to school as there will be no learning activities taking place.
“We are not going back to school. Let your children stay at home where they are safe. We are here to send a clear message to the TSC; they must fulfill their legal obligations and make sure our demands are met,” he said.
He added that teachers under KUPPET in Nyeri should not engage in any dialogue with school heads who are persuading them to return to class.
“We have heard that some school principals are engaging our teachers, persuading them not to participate in the nationwide strike. However, we want to tell our members not to be persuaded,” he said, pointing out that their key demands include the immediate promotion of 130,000 teachers who have stagnated in their current grades, as well as the transition of all intern teachers to permanent status by July 2024.
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“Our members have been waiting patiently, but the TSC has failed to act. We can no longer accept these delays, our teachers did the interview and they are already shortlisted and interviewed for new grades in 2023 but they have not yet been promoted,” he said.
He added that KUPPET is open to negotiations, but the TSC must come to the table with a genuine commitment to addressing their concerns.
“We are committed to finding a solution that works for everyone. However, we must also ensure that any agreement reached is sustainable and in the best interests of our teachers and the education system as a whole,” he said.
By Kiarie Macharie
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