First Edition, March 2025
Commonwealth Teachers Group (CTG)
Undeterred, we mobilized for what became a major teacher revolt – disrupting education services in all
schools all over Kenya. KUPPET members demonstrated the power of worker-led unionism that fights with
and for the working class. They held spontaneous street dances and other performances which served as
avenues for public education on civil rights, trade unionism, leadership and politics.
The demand for the immediate confirmation of the ‘intern’ teachers and the employment of 20,000 new
teachers struck a chord with all stakeholders from students to parents to political leaders. Within days, it
became clear that the government had grossly under-estimated the union’s ability to lead a massive
grassroots campaign that served as avenue for Kenyans to express themselves on the country’s education.
Union members who had stagnated in their careers spoke publicly about the humiliation they had faced at
the employer’s hands. One teacher who last earned a promotion 18 years earlier told a gripping tale of how
some of his own students had trained in the universities, joined the profession and become his superiors.
Confronted with popular opposition, the government conceded to all of KUPPET’s demands. Under a return-
to-work deposited in court, the government immediately restored the medical cover and all benefits
accruing to teachers as provided under the subsisting CBA. It also committed to confirm the 46,000 ‘interns’,
to employ 20,000 new teachers and promote teachers as provided under Regulations. Importantly, it
committed to not victimise any teacher for their role in the strike, putting paid to its intimidation efforts.
Regrettably, the government clamped down on KUPPET to slow the momentum we gained through the
strike. The employer illegally declined to collect our union dues, through check-off, for three months –
plunging the union into severe financial crisis that disrupted our activities. The dues were only resumed
after we brought a case against the government in the labour court after 4 months of stalled union activities.
We lost revenue but we gained for the teachers
The writer is the National Chairman of the Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers and a member
of the National Assembly
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