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| Omboko Milemba |
The education sector in Kenya is facing a significant crisis as the Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) and the Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) have issued a joint strike notice ahead of schools reopening. Pupils studying in an empty classroom after teachers downed their tools (Photo for illustration). KUPPET’s national chairman, Omboko Milemba, announced that teachers will begin their strike on August 26. Speaking on Citizen TV, Milemba emphasised that Kenyan teachers, who have remained patient despite delayed payments, are now left with no option but to strike. “There is a joint strike notice from August 26 by the KNUT and KUPPET, meaning schools will not open. The genesis of this begins with the long journey of Collective bargaining agreements (CBAs). To solve the issue of teachers going on strike at the end of every year, we decided to leave the issue of signing legal notices with the government and adopted collective bargaining agreements,” he said. According to him, the unresolved issues and unmet commitments have driven the unions to take this drastic measure. Why are teachers planning to strike? Milemba, who also serves as a Member of Parliament for Emuhaya, criticised the perception of teaching as merely a calling rather than a respected profession, which contributes to its lower status in comparison to other fields. He expressed regret over the government’s failure to implement the 2021-2025 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) which was scheduled to begin in July 2024. The second phase of the CBA includes a promised 7-9% salary increase. Additionally, KNUT demands the permanent employment of 46,000 teachers. “They have no option but to down their tools on the mentioned date unless a miracle happens,” Milemba added.