Issue 7-Day Strike Notice Kuppet Threaten Nationwide Strike Over CBA Delays
The Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) has issued a stern warning to the Teachers Service Commission (TSC), demanding the immediate commencement of negotiations for a new Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) before the current one expires on June 30, 2025. Failure to act within the next seven days could trigger a nationwide teachers’ strike set to begin on June 28, 2025.
The union, which represents thousands of post-primary teachers across the country, is pushing for a comprehensive review of teachers’ salaries, allowances, and general working conditions. KUPPET is proposing a new CBA that would take effect from July 2025 to 2029, covering a wide range of monetary and non-monetary benefits designed to improve teachers’ welfare and motivation.
Teachers Demand Salary and Allowance Overhaul
Speaking during a press conference in Kakamega County on Friday, KUPPET Secretary General Akello Misori declared that the union would not allow the lapse of the current CBA without a new agreement in place. He emphasized that teachers’ morale and service delivery would be negatively impacted if their terms of service remained undefined beyond June 30.
“Our members cannot continue working under uncertainty. The TSC must act now, or we will withdraw labour on June 28,” Misori warned.
KUPPET’s proposed new CBA includes sweeping salary and allowance adjustments, structured as follows:
Proposed Salary Increment Highlights:
- 100% salary increase for teachers in lower job groups.
- 50% salary increase for teachers in higher job groups.
- 20% general salary increment across all teaching grades.
Proposed Allowance Adjustments:
- 200% commuter allowance increase for teachers in senior positions.
- 250% commuter allowance raise for teachers in lower job groups.
- 100% increment in hardship allowance for teachers in remote and arid areas.
- 20% hazard allowance for teachers working in high-risk or conflict-prone regions.
- Leave allowance to be equal to one month’s basic salary based on the teacher’s job group.
- Introduction of overtime pay and comprehensive risk allowances for teachers working beyond standard teaching hours or in insecure environments.
Misori insisted that these revisions are critical in recognizing the increasingly demanding nature of teachers’ roles, especially under the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC) and other recent education reforms.
Parliament and Labour Ministry Urged to Intervene
KUPPET National Chairperson Omboko Milemba, who is also the Member of Parliament for Emuhaya, has appealed to the Parliamentary Committee on Education and the Ministry of Labour to intervene before the looming strike date.
“We are appealing to all relevant institutions, including Parliament and the Labour Ministry, to engage the TSC in dialogue. Our intention is not to disrupt learning, but we must safeguard the rights of our members,” said Milemba.
He added that the union had already formally notified the Ministry of Labour of the intended industrial action, in compliance with labour laws and the Employment Act.
CBA Expiry to Affect Education Stability
The current CBA between TSC and KUPPET was signed on July 13, 2021, and is set to lapse on June 30, 2025. The agreement introduced incremental salary adjustments, professional development support, and structured promotion pathways for teachers. However, KUPPET now argues that the current package no longer reflects the economic realities or professional expectations in the education sector.
“The cost of living has risen, teachers’ responsibilities have expanded, and we cannot afford to operate under outdated compensation structures,” said Misori.
KUPPET further insists that any delay in launching negotiations risks destabilizing the education calendar. A nationwide strike at the end of June would affect third term preparations, CBC implementation in junior secondary schools, and the upcoming Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) preparations.
Opposition to Removal of Exam Fee Subsidy
In addition to the CBA issues, KUPPET has also expressed strong opposition to the proposed scrapping of the national examination fee subsidy, a government initiative that has, until now, covered exam costs for all learners in public primary and secondary schools.
Misori warned that eliminating this subsidy would be a direct violation of Article 53 of the Kenyan Constitution, which guarantees free and compulsory basic education for all children.
“Removing the exam subsidy will lock out poor learners, especially in rural and informal settlements, from completing their education journey. It will reverse gains made over the last decade in ensuring inclusive access,” said the union.
What Happens Next?
With just weeks left before the current agreement expires, all eyes are now on the TSC’s response to KUPPET’s seven-day ultimatum. If the Commission fails to initiate talks before June 28, the union has vowed to mobilize its membership across the country for a full-scale strike.
Such a strike would not only paralyze operations in public secondary schools and teacher training colleges but could also ignite similar actions by other teacher unions, potentially bringing the entire education system to a standstill.
As the June 30 CBA deadline fast approaches, pressure is mounting on the Teachers Service Commission to return to the negotiation table. With teachers demanding fair compensation and better working conditions, the next few days will be critical for the future of Kenya’s education sector.
