The Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) and the Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) have threatened to call for a nationwide teachers' strike if the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) fails to implement six resolutions they demand to be addressed.

Addressing the media on Wednesday, KNUT Secretary General Collins Oyuu said they would down their tools on August 26, 2024, if their demands are not met.

“KNUT and KUPPET have today joined forces to demand the immediate resolution of the following six issues causing unrest among our members,” stated Oyuu.

The six issues the two unions demand TSC implement within seven days are full implementation of the 2021-2025 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), conversion of Junior Secondary School (JSS) teachers to new employment status, and immediate confirmation of all current intern teachers to permanent and pensionable terms with the remittance of their full salaries for the month.

“The unions demand the immediate confirmation of all current intern teachers to permanent and pensionable terms effective July 1, 2024, and the remittance of their full salaries for the month, which are now arrears,” said Oyuu.

Furthermore, the unions blamed TSC for reducing the appropriations for the teachers’ medical scheme in the current financial year.

“The unions are concerned by the reduction in the current Appropriations Act of the teachers’ medical cover by Ksh.11,899,413,833, which will cut the benefits to teachers by 50 per cent,” said KUPPET Secretary General Akello Misori.

The two unions also call on the TSC to consider promoting 130,000 stagnated teachers and implementing the teachers’ medical cover according to the 2021-2025 CBA.

“The unions demand the immediate confirmation by the Commission that it will promote 130,000 teachers who have stagnated in their current job grades within this financial year. These teachers were already shortlisted and interviewed for new grades within this financial year,” noted Oyuu.

In their two-page statement, the unions also demanded that TSC stop deducting NSSF contributions from teachers’ salaries without remitting the same to the fund and commit to a new CBA where they want risk allowances for science teachers, postgraduate allowances, per diems for games teachers, and special duty and acting allowances for teachers not substantially appointed.