Why Ruto is keen to avert teachers, lecturers strike

KUPPET Secretary General Akello Misori, addressed the press on August  15, 2024, at Kasarani Sportview Hotel in Nairobi, flanked by Kenya Union of Post Primary Teachers (KUPPET) National chairman Omboko Milemba and Kuppet Vice Chairman Julius Korir. [Edward Kiplimo, Standard]

The possible infiltration of the planned lecturers and teachers' strike by students has put pressure on the government to avert industrial action.

The Standard has established that university students could also join the strike, potentially triggering another round of Gen Z demonstrations.

A stakeholders meeting has been scheduled for Wednesday between the Ministry of Labour, the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) and the unions to avert the looming strike.

Labour Cabinet Secretary Alfred Mutua, on Tuesday, reaffirmed the plan to avert teachers strike ahead of schools reopening.

“We will convene a meeting with the TSC and the unions to negotiate before the strike starts and not to negotiate while the strike is going on,” Dr Mutua said.

This comes after President William Ruto on Friday last week, directed Treasury and TSC, to initiate talks with teachers and lecturers' unions and avert industrial action in the education sector.

Ruto directed that a meeting be convened for Kenya National Union of Teachers (Knut), Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (Kuppet) and the Universities Academic Staff Union (Uasu) to iron out pending issues that have led to the issuance of strike notices.

"The Treasury, TSC and the teaching fraternity should sit together and look at the possibility of ensuring that we implement our commitment as government and thus avoid unnecessary industrial action and interruption in our learning institutions," the President said during the State Concert for the Kenya Music Festival at the Eldoret State Lodge on Friday.

The two teachers' unions have called a nationwide strike when schools open for the third term in one week while university workers have also threatened to down tools in September.

The twin threats by sector players pose a threat to the smooth running of the education calendar and could also hamper the preparation of KCSE examinations and national assessments.

On Monday, Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Migos described the timing of the strike as bad since schools will be opening for the third term when candidates sit for national examinations.

He said the TSC and unions had opened discussions to avert a crisis.

"The teacher's concerns are legit and the government's challenges are also legitimate so we have to sit together and have genuine conversations… Towards the end of the week we should be able to tell the country where we are in regards to the strike,” Migos said.

What is however of concern to the government is the possible infiltration of the strike by Gen Z sympathisers.

It emerged that student leaders across the country are set to converge in September, when universities reopen, over what they term as undertones surrounding the funding of university students.

Michael Soi Ngetich, University of Nairobi student representative said the meeting will chart a way forward.

“We met the Ministry of Education in Naivasha and later in Nairobi over the new funding model and aired our grievances but the same is yet to be factored, we will meet when universities resume session to agree on the way forward,” Ngetich said.

Mutua said that he had so far received a strike notice from Uasu and Kuppet.

However, he indicated that the Ministry of Labour was yet to receive a strike notice from Knut.

“We had a meeting with Knut last week and after a brief engagement we agreed to allow negotiations before the strike, as far as I’m concerned, Knut has not issued a strike notice,” the CS said while addressing a joint presser with the Central Organisation of Trade Unions (Cotu).

Kuppet and Knut last week petitioned the Labour Ministry over six grievances they want addressed including plight of Junior Secondary School teachers (JSS), increased salaries as outlined in the collective agreement (CBA) and employment of additional teachers.

The planned strike poses a threat to the school calendar and will be the third major disruption to schools this year, following floods and anti-government protests.

But even as pressure mounts, the unions insist that the strike is on.

On Monday, Kuppet Secretary General Akelo Misori in a letter to the Labour CS said a list of grievances presented on August 12 are yet to be addressed.

The notice expires on August 25, the eve of school reopening.

“The notice will expire on August 25. In the meantime, we remain available and committed to taking part in any negotiations to mutually resolve the issues we have raised,” said Misori in the letter dated August 19.

Similarly, Uasu on August 15 issued a strike notice over salary delays.

Uasu Secretary General Constantine Wasonga warned that learning in all public universities might be disrupted in September when new and returning students report.

“The union shall not accept a reduction in salaries for our members. We will not tolerate any delays in releasing salaries to public universities and shall take legal action,” Wasonga said.

Speaking to The Standard, Knut Secretary General Collins Oyuu said Tuesday that the union's planned strike is on.

However, he indicated that the union will engage in the talks with TSC on Wednesday.