Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Migos Ogamba has confirmed the Ministry has received the teacher’s strike notice.

Speaking on Wednesday, August 21, 2024, CS Ogamba indicated that the teachers’ strike notice had been forwarded to the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) for consideration.

According to the Education Cabinet Secretary, the TSC is expected to engage with the Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT)and the Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) before the Ministry of Education steps in.

“We received a strike notice and of course, there is a procedure; the notice goes to TSC which has to handle that aspect then we step in.

“The KNUT leadership is meeting with TSC leadership to discuss the issue of the strike,” Ogamba stated.

The CS explained that both KNUT and KUPPET issued their strike notices ahead of school re-opening asking the government to honour the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).

KNUT Union Secretary General Collins Oyuu stated that TSC is yet to implement the second phase of the signed 2021-2025 CBA agreement.

In their demand the tutors want the government to fully implement the CBA agreement, promote stagnated teachers and convert the intern teacher’s contracts into Permanent and Pensionable terms.

However, he expressed optimism that TSC and the teachers union would strike an agreement that would avert the looming strike.

CS Ogamba has called for Teachers' unions to have a stakeholders engagement and consultations in the best interest of the learners. pic.twitter.com/BSPRJK2do8

— Ministry of Education, Kenya (MoE) (@EduMinKenya) August 21, 2024

Effects of strike

If the strike goes on as planned, it is expected to disrupt the school calendar and eventually the national examinations slated for the third term.

This is further projected to affect the transition in the next academic year.

However, various government officials have stepped up efforts to avert the looming strike. On August 16, 2024, President William Ruto directed the National Treasury and the Education ministries to negotiate with teachers’ unions to address grievances raised by teachers in efforts to avert looming strike.

“We have agreed that the Treasury, Teachers Service Commission, and the teaching fraternity sit together and look at the possibilities of ensuring that we implement our commitment as a government to avoid unnecessary industrial action,” Ruto stated.

The President assured that the talks to be spearheaded soon by relevant ministries will help avoid learning interruptions as schools are set to re-open soon after the August holiday.

“So that engagement is going to happen, I want to tell the leadership of all those that are concerned and all the stakeholders to work together for the interests of our children and respect what is due for our teaching fraternity both at KNUT and KUPPET levels,” he stated.

Labour CS Alfred Mutua has also engaged with the teachers’ officials in a bid to avert the looming strike.

Schools are expected to reopen for the third term starting September 2024.