Striking Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) teachers raided schools in Mombasa County on Monday, August 26, forcing out colleagues who reported to work.
Speaking to the media, Michael Mpita, the deputy Union Secretary of KUPPET’s Mombasa branch, and Lynet Kamadi, the executive secretary, vowed not to return to school until the government meets their demands.
“We are continuing with our walk. We have visited other schools, including those in Mvita Sub-County, and now we are heading to Kasauni Sub-County. Our aim is to visit schools and check if our members are present. If they are, we take them out to ensure the success of this strike,” Mpita stated.
The Union leaders clarified that their goal is not to remove teachers from classrooms forcefully but to seek permission from principals to speak to their colleagues and educate them about their rights.
Mombasa KUPPET leaders emphasized that this approach allows teachers to make independent decisions after understanding the importance of the strike.
“We ask the principal for a chance to speak with the teachers and educate them about their rights. An informed person can make an independent decision,” one Union leader explained.
More Teachers Join Strike
As a result, several teachers who initially reported for duty joined the strike.
According to the leaders, only school principals and a few educators remain in the schools, with the majority of students still at home.
“We have found many teachers who have joined us, and staffrooms in all the schools we visited have been locked. The only ones left in those schools are the principals and one educator. Even the students are supporting our strike, as they have not come to school,” the Union leader added.
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The leaders also pledged to continue visiting schools to convince their members to join the strike and fight for their rights.
“We will follow and eject those teachers who think they can hide and report to school. We will ensure that no teacher reports to work because we are fighting for the rights of all teachers,” Mpita declared.
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Demand on JSS
Kamadi accused the government of ignoring calls to hire more Junior Secondary School (JSS) teachers, which is crucial for easing operations in JSS.
“We are teachers and understand what is happening on the ground. The JSS teachers are few, and the government has refused to employ more. We want teachers to be employed on permanent and pensionable terms to increase their numbers,” Kamadi asserted.
KUPPET strike enters day two as schools begin opening for terms three. However, the Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) called of strike and directed members to report to schools.
Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba Migos on Monday, August 26 assured all teachers that the government “will do all we can to better their terms and conditions of service. At the same time, Migos urged KUPPET to call off its strike.
“I therefore call upon the Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET), to review their stance and to call off their strike. The Government has demonstrated goodwill and readiness to address all the issues raised. We therefore see no reason for confrontation,” the CS pleaded.
“Already, resources have been provided for the implementation of the 2021-2025 Collective Bargaining Agreement. We have also provided resources for the retooling of teachers, to make them CBC-ready. The other issues that had been raised by the unions, such as concerns around access to medical cover, career progression guidelines and promotions of teachers, are also being addressed administratively by the Teachers Service Commission,” CS Migos noted.
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