Teachers in Kitui County have announced that they will boycott classrooms next week as part of a broader nationwide strike planned by the Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) and the Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET). The strike, set to begin on August 26, 2024, is a response to the government’s failure to implement the second phase of the 2021-2025 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), which promised a salary increase and other benefits.
KNUT’s Kitui Branch Secretary General, Simon Mutunga Nding’o, confirmed that local teachers are fully committed to the strike. This action is part of a coordinated effort across the country to demand better working conditions, including the permanent employment of intern teachers and addressing staffing shortages by recruiting additional teachers. The unions have expressed frustration over unresolved grievances, including delayed payments, issues with the teachers’ medical scheme, and non-remittance of SACCO and loan deductions.
The upcoming strike is expected to paralyze learning across the nation as teachers unite to pressure the government into action. Education stakeholders are closely watching to see if the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) will address the demands in time to prevent the strike, but so far, no resolution has been reached.
This situation highlights the ongoing challenges within Kenya’s education sector and the need for a sustainable solution to avoid recurring disruptions. As the strike date approaches, the future of millions of students hangs in the balance, with many parents and learners bracing for the impact.
Stay tuned on www.channel15news.co.ke for more updates as this story develops.
