President William Ruto and his new Deputy Kithure Kindiki on Saturday, November 2, 2024, hosted teachers representatives at State House, Nairobi.

In a statement, Ruto confirmed the meeting with the Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) led by its National Chairman Omboko Milemba.

The Head of State indicated that the meeting enabled them to deliberate on ways to improve the teachers’ welfare and also improve the country’s education quality.

“Our routine dialogue and exchange of views with education stakeholders is aimed at improving the welfare of teachers and quality of learning for our children,” Ruto stated.

Our routine dialogue and exchange of views with education stakeholders is aimed at improving the welfare of teachers and quality of learning for our children.

Met the Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) leadership led by its National Chairman Omboko Milemba,… pic.twitter.com/MD86vSG2M7

— William Samoei Ruto, PhD (@WilliamsRuto) November 2, 2024

Demands

The meeting comes just days after the KUPPET officials hinted at pushing for a salary hike of between 60 and 100 per cent.

Ahead of their National Delegates Conference, the teachers are also pushing for the introduction of a standing allowance pegged at 30 per cent of the basic salary because teaching while standing is not only tiresome and stressful, but also has health consequences.

In the fresh demands, they also want science teachers to be paid a detoxification allowance pegged at 20 per cent of the basic salary due to their exposure to harmful chemicals in laboratories.

Through KUPPET branch officials, the teachers are also demanding amendments to the union constitution to bar national officials who have been elected to Parliament from holding office.

Should the amendments be adopted, Milemba is among those who will be compelled to vacate office.

The new list of demands comes after the officials called off their nationwide strike after finding a return-to-work agreement with the government.

Teachers had threatened to disrupt learning and even national examinations but a timely intervention by their employers and the national government averted the crisis.

From the latest meeting with Ruto, it is not clear if some of their demands were factored into the conversation.

The Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) led by its Secretary General Collins Oyuu is also pushing for a 60 per cent salary increase due to the high cost of living.

“The inflation rate at the moment does not allow us to continue having boardroom meetings with our employer. The economic times are extremely harsh,” he said. 

Oyuu said these demands formed part of the discussions held between the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) and Knut from July 7, 2024, to July 9, 2024.

Their demands would be spelt out ahead of their conference.