KNUT calls off planned strike, urges teachers to resume work
The Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) has withdrawn the notice for the teachers’ strike that was set to begin on Monday, August 26. After a day-long meeting on Sunday by KNUT’s National Executive Council (NEC), the union decided to call off the strike while continuing negotiations with the government.
In a press conference, KNUT Secretary-General Collins Oyuu conveyed that the decision was made following extensive discussions by the union’s National Executive Council (NEC).
“The NEC has, therefore, today August 25, 2024, agreed to withdraw the strike action notice which was elapsing midnight August 25, 2024 since we have commenced addressing the remaining matters administratively. In light of the latest developments, we direct our teachers to resume duty effective Monday, August 26, 2024,” KNUT stated in a statement.
Oyuu stated that progress has been made in addressing the issues they raised and that there is a commitment to resolving all of them.
KNUT demanded permanent employment of 46,000 Junior Secondary School teachers and immediate implementation of the second phase of the 2021/2025 amended CBA, signed between TSC and KNUT. They wanted the promotion of 130,000 teachers and the immediate remittance of third-party deductions owed to their respective organizations.
KNUT warned that if all the issues are not addressed, they will resume the strike notice, noting that it has only been withdrawn.
Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Migos Ogamba expressed gratitude to Knut for calling off the strike and promised to address the teachers’ grievances.
“We assure our teachers of the government’s genuine commitment to addressing all their legitimate concerns, notwithstanding the limiting fiscal space within which we are operating as a country,” Ogamba said.
He encouraged parents and guardians to send their children to their respective schools on Monday as money had already been released to schools.
“The ministry has already disbursed Ksh.21.8 billion as capitation to all basic education institutions to facilitate a seamless resumption of all school operations,” Ogamba added.
Teachers Service Commission (TSC) agreed to meet some of KNUT’s demands, including the promotion of 51,232 teachers. In the discussion, KNUT said TSC remitted the third-party deductions and was in the process of implementing the amended CBA.
