By Francis Kioko.
Business ground to a halt in Kitui town today as junior secondary school teachers took to the streets, demanding confirmation from the Teachers Service Commission (TSC). The demonstrators, carrying placards with messages such as “JSS Teachers Are Not TSC Puppets” and “17,000 Pay Is Not Meaningful,” vowed not to return to work until their demands are met.The protest in Kitui is part of a larger, nationwide movement involving over 46,000 junior secondary school teachers who have been on strike for two weeks.
These young and energetic educators are demanding better pay and job security, citing the disparity between their earnings and those of their counterparts in regular primary schools.”Teachers in regular primary schools earn 15,000 Kenyan shillings, while those in junior secondary schools receive 20,000. This is insufficient,” said one protester. Despite recent increments, with newly employed junior secondary school teachers earning 34,955 shillings plus various allowances, the demonstrators argue that their compensation does not reflect the cost of living and their workload.
The Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) Secretary General Collins Oyuu and Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) counterpart Akelo Misori have both warned that the ongoing strike could paralyze learning activities for grades seven and eight if the government does not intervene.
They are calling for an amicable resolution to the impasse to prevent further disruption to the education system.As the strike enters its third week, there is growing pressure on the government and TSC to address the teachers’ grievances and ensure a swift resolution to the crisis. The situation remains tense, with no clear end in sight, as both teachers and unions stand firm in their demands for fair treatment and recognition.
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