Ruto directs Treasury, TSC to engage teachers unions over planned strike

President William Ruto has directed the National Treasury and Teachers Service Commission to immediately hold talks with teachers' unions to avert a looming strike that could paralyse learning across all primary and secondary schools in the country.

The Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) has announced that its members will begin a strike on August 25. The following day, teachers under the Kenya Union of Post Primary Teachers (KUPPET) will join them, with both unions having issued a seven-day strike notice to the government.

Ruto said his administration was keen on resolving the crisis to avoid unnecessary industrial action.

"They will look into the possibility of ensuring the government honours its commitment to avoid industrial action and interruptions in our learning institutions," he said when he hosted the Kenya Music Festival gala at Eldoret State Lodge in Uasin Gishu County on Friday.

Labour CS Alfred Mutua met with officials earlier this week, but the meeting ended without a resolution. Days later, he urged the unions to grant the government additional time to review their concerns.

The government is racing against time to resolve the crisis ahead of school reopening on August 26.

KNUT officials when they met Labour CS Alfred Mutua on Tuesday, August 13, 2024. (Photo: Handout )

Their other concerns include the remittance of deductions to the health insurance scheme and the prompt deduction of loans to respective financial institutions.

KNUT also accused TSC of breaching their agreement by failing to implement the second phase of the addendum, effective July 1, 2024, for all teachers, including basic salaries and allowances.

The second phase of the 2021 CBA offered its members a salary increment of up to 9 per cent.

According to KNUT Secretary General Collins Oyuu, they had no other option but to strike because the government and their employer (TSC) had blatantly refused to address their concerns.

He criticised the National Treasury's decision to cut the TSC's budget for implementing the agreement, stating it reflected the government's lack of commitment to fulfilling its obligations.

President Ruto said his government would invest in the creative economy to leverage the sector's immense opportunities, create jobs, and continue supporting the music festivals that he said were crucial in identifying and honing talent among the younger learners.