The Kenya Union of Post -Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) got a lifeline on Saturday after meeting President William Ruto in State House, Nairobi. Operations at the post primary teachers’ union had grounded to a halt for lack of funds. The Union has gone for three months without union dues which are deducted by the Teachers Service Commission, TSC, from teachers’ monthly Salaries.
Led by the National Chair Omboko Milemba and Secretary General Akello Misori the KUPPET National Executive Board (NEB) held a consultative meeting with President William Ruto at State House Nairobi, in a bid to salvage the sinking ship.
During the meeting, the union briefed the President on important issues in the education sector and the welfare and working conditions of teachers in public service.
The union sought the President’s support for its current programmes, including negotiations for a new Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) for the 2025-2029 cycle.
President William Ruto on his official X-Account: “Our routine dialogue and exchange of views with education stakeholders is aimed at improving the welfare of teachers and quality of learning for our children.
Met the Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) leadership led by its National Chairman Omboko Milemba, State House, Nairobi.”
The NEB team commended the President for his keen focus on education sector needs. Thanks to this focus, the government employed a record 51,000 teachers in a single year in 2023, some initially as interns but all now on permanent and pensionable terms.
“We expressed our gratitude for the TSC’s successful implementation of the Court Consent/Return-to-Work Formula signed between KUPPET and the Commission on 5th Sept 2024” Said Misori after the meeting.
Misori reportedly told the President that the employer (TSC) had delivered on most of its commitments under the Consent, such as the full implementation of the 2021-2025 CBA; the confirmation of 46,000 JSS teachers into permanent and pensionable positions; provisions for the Teachers Medical Scheme; the employment of 20,000 new teachers; the repeal of Career Progression Guidelines; and lastly the promotion of 45,000 teachers – all within two months of signing the Consent.
The union at the same time appealed to the President to ensure the TSC’s access to more funds for the promotion of all 130,000 stagnated teachers; the employment of more teachers to bridge the deficit; and a review of teachers’ housing, leave and commuter allowances, among other priorities.
On his part, President Ruto reiterated his open door policy and partnership with education sector stakeholders including teachers’ unions.
Recalling his two previous meetings with the KUPPET leadership, the President assured the union of the high premium he attaches to stakeholder engagement and urged KUPPET to support the government in delivering its flagship projects.
He acknowledged that, as the representative of teachers across all facets of work, KUPPET may have grievances that the TSC may not address by itself, such as the allocation of funds for new employment. In such matters, he urged KUPPET to exhaust the means of dialogue within government all the way to the presidency, and to use industrial action only as a last resort.
Besides bilateral issues, the President briefed the union on the government’s priorities including the housing development project to which teachers are a major contributor under the Housing Levy launched in 2023.