The Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (Kuppet) now wants the state to pay pending bills owed to teachers.
The national chairman Omboko Milemba while speaking at St Columbans High School in Kitale during the Kuppet annual general meeting on November 19, stated that the union is currently in talks with President William Ruto to have Sh100 billion raised to settle pending bills owed to teachers.
Mr. Milemba said the Teachers Service Commission needs to review the 2021–2025 Collective Bargaining Agreement to have teachers promoted.
“The five years CBA will quantify promotions for deputy principals, head of departments and acting principals who had worked for long without pay,” he said.
Moreover, teachers in job group B1 currently earn a basic salary of Sh24,250. If the recommendations are successful, teachers in job group D5 will get a pay rise of up to Sh89,016. According to this, the highest paid teacher will earn Sh237,376 from the current Sh148,360.
Milemba further urged the government to appoint the National Health Insurance Fund as Teachers insurance medical scheme. Noting that beneficiaries and their family members had undergone untold suffering.
“The government should have in the first place allowed several medical insurers to offer services to teachers than having them locked to one,” he said.
Presently, AON Minet offers medical insurance to teachers and their families. The Kuppet chairman asked TSC to enter into a memorandum of understanding with the NHIF to start providing medical services to teachers.
“NHIF being a government body should not be challenged by private insurance providers to offer services to teachers and any other government worker,” he said.
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According to Milemba, it is ironical for NHIF to offer a comprehensive package to some civil servants while teachers get services from AON Minet.
Moreover, Trans Nzoia Lands executive Jeany Mutama who is also Kuppet assistant treasurer guaranteed the county government’s support in the economic empowerment of teachers.
Likewise, Public Works executive Jackson Wanyungu challenged the teachers’ leadership to unite to achieve their expectations.
“The county government looks at you as residents with rights to participate in issues and principles of governance,” he said.
Nonetheless, the Education and Vocational training executive Julie Kichwen who represented Governor George Natembeya said Early Child Development Education caregivers will be hired on permanent and pensionable terms.
Kichwen added that funds had been set up for an enhanced bursary scheme to help bright but needy children.
