On Tuesday, Labour and Social Protection Cabinet Secretary Alfred Mutua held a meeting with officials from the Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) to discuss the implementation of the 2021 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) in anticipation of a potential strike before schools reopen.
Mutua stated that the purpose of the meeting was to address a range of grievances from teachers and underscored the need for proactive measures to ensure industrial harmony. “We need to address issues before they escalate into strikes. My goal is to ensure satisfaction for both employees and employers, not just for maintaining industrial peace, but also to boost productivity,” he said.
KNUT had previously announced that its members would not return for the third term unless the CBA is fully implemented. Secretary General Collins Oyuu pointed out that the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) had yet to carry out the second phase of the 2021-2025 CBA.
“The KNUT is committed to improving the terms and conditions of teachers in Kenya. We organized this AGM to update teachers on the status of these issues,” Oyuu said.
Additional concerns raised include issues with the teachers’ medical scheme, delays in SACCO and loan deductions, and postponements in retirement benefits payments. The union is also advocating for the permanent employment of intern teachers and the hiring of 20,000 more teachers to alleviate staffing shortages.
