Teachers Refuse The New Payrise Or Rather Demand This Immediately .
Following President William Ruto’s declaration of a salary increase for all public servants, the Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) and the Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (Kuppet) have vehemently rejected this proposal. They argue that the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) should adhere to the terms outlined in the 2021-2025 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) for teachers, rather than accepting the President’s suggested pay raise.
These teachers’ unions advocate for a carefully structured approach to determine appropriate salary adjustments, one that benefits their members in specific job categories. Their proposed salary increase ranges from 30 to 70 percent, with the highest-paid educators receiving the 70 percent increment and the lowest earners receiving a 30 percent raise. This stands in stark contrast to President Ruto’s proposal, which aimed for a more modest 7 to 10 percent salary hike.
To provide context, the 2021-2025 CBA had previously outlined ambitious salary adjustments. For instance, Kuppet sought to raise the salary of the lowest-paid teachers to Ksh 59,425 from the current Ksh 34,955, a deal that had been suspended two years earlier. Within the same agreement, the teachers’ unions also advocated for an increase in the highest-paid bracket from Ksh 118,242 to Ksh 153,715.
Also Read:Â KNUT Sec. General Oyuu Tells Teachers Sorry over Raw CBA
The unions emphasize that teachers have endured a two-year-long struggle as they were denied the benefits stipulated in the 2021-2025 Collective Bargaining Agreement.
In response, Collins Oyuu, the Secretary-General of the Kenya National Union of Teachers, expressed the union’s determination to ensure that the Teachers Service Commission fulfills teachers’ demands, particularly as the country transitions to Junior Secondary Schools (JSS) under the new curriculum. Oyuu also welcomed the recent announcement by President Ruto, viewing it as a potential catalyst for strengthening the CBA for 2021-2025.
In a related development, the Teachers Service Commission addressed the ongoing teacher shortage by announcing 20,000 teaching job vacancies across the country. Out of these positions, 18,000 are reserved for interns, while the remaining 2,000 offer permanent and pensionable employment, aiming to alleviate the staffing challenges in schools.
Teachers Refuse The New Payrise Or Rather Demand This Immediately
