Kakamega Senator Boni Kwalwale has asked the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) Nancy Macharia to swallow her pride and engage the striking teachers.

In a statement published on his X account on Thursday, August 29, 2024, Khalwale asked the TSC boss to lead the employment commission in negotiating with the striking teachers on an immediate return to work formula.

He further added that the TSC should honour the demands of the striking teachers after Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba announced the release of Ksh18.7 billion and Ksh13.5 billion to cater for the hiring intern teachers and implementation of the CBA on salary increments.

“Now that the CS for Education, Julius Ogamba, has announced the release of Ksh 18.7 billion and Ksh13.5 billion for hiring intern teachers and for implementation of the CBA on salary increments for teachers respectively, we urge Nancy Macharia to swallow her pride and lead the TSC to sit with the striking teachers to work on an immediate return to work formula. Jokes aside!” he said.

Teachers’ Funds

In a statement On Tuesday, August 27, 2024, CS Ogamba announced that the government has released funds to honour the demands of the striking teachers.

Ogamba added that the funds will cater for the employment of the intern teachers and the implementation of the CBA on salary increments.

“The Government has also provided Ksh18.7 Billion for converting intern teachers to permanent and pensionable status in January 2025. In effect, all the major issues that had prompted strike notices have either been addressed or are lined up for decisive conclusion within short timelines,” he stated in the Tuesday statement.

“On Sunday, 25th August 2024, for example, President, William Samoei Ruto, EGH announced that the Government will employ an additional 20,000 teachers by the end of the year to ease the shortage of staff in public schools.”

Striking teachers’ demand

While announcing the teachers’ strike, Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) chairperson Omboko Milemba, accused the government of failing to implement the 2021-2025 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) which was scheduled to begin in July 2024 and also the second phase of the CBA which includes a promised 7-9% salary increase.

The teachers are demanding full implementation of the 2021-2025 CBA.

“They have no option but to down their tools on the mentioned date unless a miracle happens, we are not only dealing with CBAs but also a court order because a party is going against court contempt,” Milemba said.

“Sometimes last year the government of Kenya introduced what we call the housing levy and was called upon to lead the teachers to go and negotiate with the president whether the teachers would be deducted the housing levy. We agreed that if the teachers were to pay for the housing levy they have to sign a CBA which that they will be refunded.”

Now that the CS for Education, Julius Ogamba, has announced release of Ksh 18.7 billion & Ksh 13.5 billion for hiring of intern teachers and for implementation of the CBA on salary increment for teachers respectively, we urge Nancy Macharia to swallow her pride and lead the TSC… pic.twitter.com/TVgLWERgwi

— Dr Boni Khalwale, CBS (@DrBKhalwale) August 29, 2024