President William Ruto has directed the Treasury and the TSC to dialogue with teachers unions, Knut and Kuppet, in order to avert the planned strike over full implementation of 2021-2025 CBA among other issues.
Ruto said it was important to avert disruption of the school calendar and directed the Treasury to engage with TSC and teachers’ unions Knut and KuppetT to avoid unnecessary industrial action.
“That engagement is going to happen and I ask all the stakeholders to work together for the interests of our children respecting what is due to the teachers,” Ruto said.
He said stakeholders must sit together to look at the possibilities of implementing government commitments to avoid strikes in institutions.
The unions have given the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) a notice to address six concerns failing which their members will go on strike from August 26
The unions have demanded full implementation of the 2021-2025 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) or they order industrial action. They have also listed other demands
Ruto spoke at the Eldoret State Lodge where he hosted the Kenya Music Festival gala which comes at the end of the 14-day festivals that have been taking place at Moi Girls High Schools.
Ruto said education was an equaliser in life hence the commitment by the government to ensure all children access education at all levels
Present also were Deputy President Rigathi Gachagu and Education CS Julius Migos.
On 28th August, 2023, TSC signed the 2021-2025 CBA with KNUT, KUPPET and KUSNET.
The Commission was to get the CBA funding through the 2024 Finance Bill which was unsuccessful.
The Treasury then proposed budget cuts and TSC was affected with key areas including CBA implementation being omitted.
The agreement reviewed the remuneration payable to teachers which is to be implemented in two phases. The first phase was implemented on 1st July 2023.
The second phase was to be implemented on 1st July 2024. Teachers were to get salary changes in their July 2024 payslips but this did not happen.
However there are hopes after President Ruto ordered TSC and Treasury to come up with solution to avert the teachers strike.
In the agreement the House allowance rates shall be paid as categorized in four clusters. Cluster 1: Nairobi City Cluster 2: Mombasa, Kisumu and Nakuru Cities, Nyeri, Eldoret, Thika, Kisii, Malindi and Kitale municipalities. Cluster 3: Other former municipalities. Cluster 4: All other areas.
In the agreement the House allowance rates for Clusters 1, 2 and 3 were retained. However, Cluster 4 rates were reviewed to be implemented in two phases.
The first phase was factored in the August 2023 payroll with arrears backdated to 1st July 2023.
