Teachers allege plot by TSC to kill Kuppet

Teachers Service Commission CEO Nancy Macharia. [File, Standard]

The Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (Kuppet) has accused the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) of allegedly plotting to frustrate and eventually kill unions.

Senior Kuppet officials said several offices across the country are on the verge of closing down due to failure by TSC to remit teachers deductions to the union.

They believe the decision by TSC is designed to weaken the union's bargaining power.

Kuppet Kisumu branch executive secretary Zablon Awange said that their landlord has already served them with notice for failure to pay rent.

Awange blamed their tribulations to TSC's refusal to remit teachers deductions.

"Kuppet branches nationwide are facing pecuniary embarrassment in meeting their operations costs," Mr Awange said.

He claimed that after the August and September 2024 strike that culminated in the signing of the return-to-work formula, TSC has not remitted teachers' dues to Kuppet.

The union claimed that Social Welfare Arrangements for burial and benevolent funds were also not deducted and remitted. 

Awange said they received notice threatening to close their offices by mid-November due to three months rent arrears.

"All these is to silence union officials, particularly at the branches that organized successful industrial action that led to the employment of 46, 0000 interns to permanent and pensionable terms," he said.

The union said it was unlawful and unfair labor practices for TSC to target Kuppet in a bid to muzzle it and render it toothless through withholding or failure to deduct union dues and teacher's benevolence funds.