The Employment and Labour Relations Court in Nairobi has halted a strike planned by the Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET), pending further proceedings on September 5.
The court issued the injunction on Tuesday following an urgent application from the Teachers Service Commission (TSC), filed on August 26.
Justice James Rika ordered that the strike, scheduled to begin on August 24, cannot proceed until further court orders are made.
“Until the court reviews the matter on September 5, the Respondent, including its officials, members, and agents, is restrained from withdrawing labor or engaging in the planned industrial action,” Justice Rika declared.
The court also instructed the TSC to notify KUPPET and other interested parties, who will then have seven days to respond.
The TSC’s court action came after KUPPET-affiliated teachers in several regions started a nationwide strike, citing unresolved issues.
KUPPET has vowed to continue the strike until their demands are met, despite the Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) agreeing to delay their strike and return to work as the government addresses their concerns.
KNUT had previously issued a strike notice set to start on Monday but rescinded it after the government requested more time to address their demands.
The union decided to return to work for the third term, while KUPPET moved forward with its job boycott.
KUPPET’s demands include the full implementation of the second phase of the 2021-2025 Collective Bargaining Agreement, promotions for teachers, permanent absorption of Junior Secondary School (JSS) teachers, and the reinstatement of their medical cover.
The government contends that these issues should not justify a strike.
KNUT Secretary General Collins Oyuu stated that the union will pursue the remaining issues through administrative channels.
“The NEC, after reviewing the situation and the commitment from both the government and the TSC, has directed me to withdraw the strike notice,” Oyuu said.
KNUT had also expressed concerns about the delay in converting 46,000 intern teachers to permanent status and hiring 20,000 additional teachers to address shortages.
They also noted the lack of a clear timeframe and framework for promoting teachers, although the TSC confirmed the promotion of 51,232 teachers without addressing the status of the remaining 78,768.
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