Teachers to down tools over 2025-2029 CBA

Teachers are set to strike over the 2025-2026 collective bargaining agreement (CBA) if the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) does not fulfill its obligations within two weeks. The Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (Kuppet), the Kenya National Union of Teachers (Knut), and the Kenya Union of Special Needs Education Teachers (Kusnet) have issued a 14-day ultimatum for the government to provide a solid proposal, or they will organize industrial action.

Kuppet Secretary General Akelo Misori expressed frustration over the lack of commitment from TSC, stating that teachers have been misled for too long. He emphasized that there is no leadership gap at TSC, as there is an acting CEO, but goodwill is lacking, and teachers deserve to be listened to.

Misori pointed out that the commission has been delaying discussions on a new CBA, which teachers find unacceptable. He warned that the ongoing avoidance of engaging with teachers on the CBA is a precarious situation.

With the current CBA expiring in three weeks and no budget allocated for a new one in the 2025/26 national budget, tensions are rising. Hesbon Otieno, KNUT Deputy Secretary-General, noted that their proposals were submitted months ago, but TSC has been evasive, citing the need for advice from the Salaries and Remuneration Commission, leading to growing impatience among teachers.

The struggle for fair compensation has been a long and painful journey for many Kenyan teachers, both active and retired, spanning decades and unfulfilled government promises. The unions have proposed salary increases of 30 to 70 percent, new allowances, and career progression reforms, but no negotiation sessions have taken place.

KUSNET’s James Torome shared similar concerns, stating that the last communication from TSC was an ambiguous promise to respond later, while the new financial year approaches without any funding for their proposals. The unions argue that this silence is not merely bureaucratic neglect but poses a direct threat to classroom stability and morale, warning that failure to initiate talks could lead to strikes when schools reopen.

Additionally, over 52,000 retired teachers are still pursuing payments owed from a 1997 CBA, which was upheld in court but never fully honored. Nicholas Wafula, chair of the Retired Teachers Association in Trans Nzoia, described the situation as cruel, highlighting the distress of retired teachers who dedicated their lives to education but are now left chasing payments that have been legally recognized.

Despite a Supreme Court ruling mandating the government to pay Sh43 billion in arrears and pensions, successive governments and TSC officials have failed to resolve the issue, with the Director of Pensions disputing the number of claimants, complicating the situation further. Many retirees have died waiting for their dues, and only a small portion of what is owed has been paid, primarily to those still in service during President Mwai Kibaki’s administration.

Legal efforts to hold TSC accountable have been met with delays and counteractions, leaving the legacy of the 1997 agreement a haunting reminder for current educators. The fear of repeating past injustices fuels the current unrest among teachers.

Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Migos Ogamba reaffirmed the government’s commitment to addressing salary arrears owed to public school teachers under the 2021–2025 CBA, despite ongoing fiscal challenges. He mentioned that Sh13.5 billion has been allocated to settle July and August salary arrears and emphasized the importance of dialogue to prevent strikes.

Ogamba acknowledged the financial difficulties faced by the government and urged teachers to understand the economic realities while encouraging ongoing discussions with teachers’ unions regarding the implementation of the next phase of the CBA. He stressed the need for clear communication to avert the threat of a teachers’ strike and to find a viable solution.