Teachers’ unions in Kenya, including the Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) and the Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET), have issued a stern warning of a nationwide strike due to stalled negotiations over salary increments and allowances.
The unions are demanding a 60% pay rise and a 30% increase in allowances before the current Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) expires on June 30, 2025.
In a joint statement released on Monday, union leaders expressed frustration over the government’s failure to address their demands, accusing the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) of delaying talks critical to improving teachers’ welfare.
“We cannot continue to work under these conditions while our concerns remain unaddressed. If our demands are not met, we will have no choice but to paralyse learning across the country,” said KNUT Secretary-General Collins Oyuu during a press briefing in Nairobi.
KUPPET Chairman Omboko Milemba echoed the sentiments, emphasizing that the proposed increments are necessary to cushion teachers against the rising cost of living.
The unions argue that the current salaries and allowances are insufficient, with many teachers struggling to meet basic needs.
The TSC has acknowledged the unions’ demands but cited budgetary constraints as a challenge to implementing the proposed raises.
In a statement, the commission urged the unions to engage in further dialogue to avert disruptions in the education sector, particularly with national examinations approaching.
The threat of a strike comes at a critical time, as students prepare for end-of-term assessments.
Parents and education stakeholders have called for a swift resolution to avoid derailing the academic calendar.
The unions have given the government a 14-day ultimatum to present a concrete offer, failing which they will mobilize teachers for industrial action.
