Teachers’ Strike Called Off by KNUT
The Secretary General of the Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT),Collins Oyuu, announced that the planned teachers’ strike would not go ahead. The strike was supposed to start on Monday, but KNUT has decided to cancel it.
In a press conference, Oyuu explained that the union’s National Executive Council (NEC) had carefully discussed the situation before making this decision. As a result, KNUT members are asked to return to their classrooms for the third term, starting Monday, August 26, 2024.
Oyuu mentioned that the union chose to call off the strike after seeing progress on some of their concerns. KNUT had previously raised issues such as the permanent hiring of 46,000 Junior Secondary School teachers and the promotion of 130,000 teachers. The union also wanted the government to quickly implement the second phase of the 2021/2025 Collective Bargaining Agreement and to handle third-party deductions.
The Teachers’ Service Commission (TSC) agreed to address some of these demands, including promoting 51,232 teachers. However, the full implementation of the Collective Bargaining Agreement is still being worked on.
KNUT has assured its members that they will continue to push for the remaining issues. If these issues are not resolved, the union might reinstate the strike notice.
In contrast, the Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) decided to proceed with the strike as planned after a vote by its NEC members.
Earlier, on August 13, Labour Cabinet Secretary Alfred Mutua had tried to prevent the strike by meeting with KNUT officials and urging them to postpone it