Teachers threaten to go on strike in two weeks

Teachers are set to go on strike on August 26, their two giant unions have declared.

The Kenya National Union of Teachers (Knut) and Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (Kuppet) said teachers will not resume duty if the second phase of the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) is not implemented.

Knut Secretary General Collins Oyuu said all the union's branches have given the strike a green light, ruling out any talks over the implementation of the CBA with the teachers' employer, the Teacher Service Commission (TCS). 

Speaking at Oriang Primary School in Rachuonyo East Sub-county during the Rachuonyo Branch Knut Annual General Meeting, Oyuu argued that Knut will not be lenient with TSC anymore.

He said that teachers from all branches of Knut in the country had resolved to down tools if the CBA is not honoured by August 26.

“I want to acknowledge the resolution that Knut branches took in ensuring that the second phase of the CBA is implemented. I assure you that teachers are ready to down their tools if the TSC fails to honour implementation of the second phase of the CBA,” Oyuu said.

Oyuu ruled out any fresh talks over the CBA, saying the TSC should implement it as agreed.

“The CBA was signed through the due process and what remains is the implementation of its second phase. Nobody should expect me to sit at another table for any consultation on the CBA," Oyuu said.

The Secretary General said he had completed his role in the CBA by signing it, hence what remained was its implementation.

Speaking in a different function, Kuppet Executive Secretary in Homa Bay County Stephen Yogo warned that the government will see unprecedented demonstrations if they fail to honour the CBA.

“We are ready to suffer any consequences in our endeavours to push the government to implement the CBA so that teachers can get what is rightfully theirs,” Yogo said.