Teachers want KUPPET's top officials to resign for calling off strike

A deep rift has emerged within the Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) as leaders from the Western, Central, and Rift Valley regions accuse Union Secretary General Akelo Misori of unilaterally calling off the teachers' strike without their consultation.

On Monday evening, Misori announced the suspension of the strike and directed all teachers to return to work on Tuesday as most of the contentious issues had been resolved.

TSC CEO Nancy Macharia also assured teachers that no punitive action would be taken against those who participated in the strike.

But the decision to suspend the strike led to a dramatic walkout by KUPPET's Secretary for Secondary Schools, Edward Obwocha, who expressed his dissatisfaction, claiming that the union leadership emerged from the meeting empty-handed.

“We did not sign a return-to-work formula as claimed. The secretary-general signed a press statement instead, purported to be a legal document. Show me the return-to-work formula document as we know it; there is none,” Obwocha said in an interview with Nation.Africa.

“I left the meeting because TSC refused to give us a return-to-work formula or draft consent to be deposited in court. TSC has been known not to act in good faith in the past, showing that nothing has changed," he added.

Other regional leaders have labelled the move by the national leadership as a betrayal and are now calling for the resignation of Misori and other top officials.

Vihiga County's branch executive secretary, Savala Inyeni, strongly criticised Misori's decision, terming it as unprocedural.

Inyeni accused the union’s top leadership of abandoning the main reasons for the strike, particularly pointing out that the agreement reached between the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) and KUPPET was inadequate.

“The agreement failed to address the most pressing issue—the stagnation of teachers in various job groups,” Inyeni said.

Kisii County branch executive, Joseph Abincha, echoed similar sentiments, accusing the national officials of sabotaging the union's efforts. Abincha asserted that the strike suspension violated KUPPET’s Constitution.

Tana River KUPPET branch secretary, Omondi Oluoch, also voiced his disappointment, accusing the union’s top officials of trivialising the strike's importance.

“The strike was a battle for the soul and dignity of the teaching profession, a fight to restore its lost glory. It took courage, sacrifice, commitment, and hope for a better, more dignified workplace, yet the National Executive Board (NEB) has betrayed us,” Oluoch said.

“We will debunk the narrative that the branch secretaries endorsed the strike's withdrawal. We had police permits to continue with the strike on Tuesday, and now they are useless. We have been betrayed by the head office,” Charles Ngeno, the Narok branch executive secretary, lamented.

KUPPET teachers participate in a strike in August 2024. (Photo: Handout)

He added, "There is a lot of deception in the union. What we discuss in boardrooms is different from what the public hears in press conferences.”

Kericho branch secretary Mary Rotich and her Bomet counterpart Paul Kimetto expressed their frustration, stating that teachers were prepared to continue their strike until the TSC meets their demands.

“It is unfortunate that teachers had secured police permits for peaceful demonstrations before the strike was abruptly called off. What was the purpose of convening the National Governing Council (NGC) on Sunday?” Rotich posed.

Echoing her sentiments, Kimetto criticised the decision-making process, saying, “It is clear to all that the problem lies not with the branch officials but with those at headquarters who should bear the responsibility for the action taken without consultation.”

Kisii branch secretary Joseph Mogire strongly condemned the NEB members, accusing them of betraying both the branches and the teachers by calling off the strike without adhering to the union's constitutional procedures. He questioned who had given the secretary-general the authority to end the strike without consulting the National Governing Council, describing it as a total betrayal of the members who had committed themselves to the cause.

Mogire also expressed deep concern over the unresolved critical issues, such as the confirmation of Junior Secondary School (JSS) intern teachers, acting principals and their deputies, and allowance-related matters.

He lamented that after dedicating substantial resources to the strike, the union leadership had ultimately let them down.

Several other branch secretaries, including Moffats Okisai from Busia, Caleb Mogere from Kilifi, and Francis Wanjohi from Nyeri, echoed Mogire's sentiments.

They criticised the NEB officials for their premature withdrawal of the strike, with Okisai noting the profound sense of disappointment and betrayal felt by the teachers who had been urged to push the strike further, only to see it abruptly called off.

The Nyeri branch representative criticised the national officials for disregarding the union's official stance on the strike, accusing them of ignoring the union's constitution.

“Our constitution is the supreme document that guides all processes, yet the national officials have disregarded it completely. Where is the return-to-work formula in this case?” he asked.