The Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) has instructed teachers to return to work for the third term after retracting a strike notice set to expire at midnight.
At a press conference, KNUT Secretary General Collins Oyuu announced that administrative measures are being taken to address remaining concerns among teachers.
Oyuu explained that, after evaluating all options and the commitment from both the government and the Teachers Service Commission (TSC), the union decided to withdraw the strike notice.
The decision to call off the strike comes amidst ongoing issues such as the conversion of 46,000 intern teachers to permanent positions.
The hiring of 20,000 additional teachers to address shortages, and concerns over the lack of a clear timeline and framework for teacher promotions.
KNUT noted that while the TSC has promoted 51,232 teachers, there is no clarity on the status of the remaining 78,768 teachers.
Oyuu expressed dissatisfaction with the responses received, particularly regarding political statements and unconfirmed promises from public leaders and government officials that have created confusion on sensitive issues.
Last week, KNUT and the TSC reached an agreement on the second phase of the Salary Award for teachers, which will be included in the salary arrears for August 2024.
The resolution of this phase allows for the start of the 2025-2029 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) cycle, specifically Section 3.3, which stipulates that components of a current CBA can only be replaced by a new one.
Additionally, third-party deductions that had been delayed have now been sent to commercial banks, teachers’ savings and credit cooperatives, investment schemes, and other legal obligations.
The ongoing issue with the teachers’ medical scheme has been addressed, with the TSC confirming that teachers will continue to access both public and private healthcare services.
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