The Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) has commended the government for addressing teachers’ long-standing challenges and pledged to support President William Ruto’s administration for improving teachers’ welfare.
KNUT Secretary-General Collins Oyuu, speaking during a meeting with officials from 21 Nyanza region branches in Mombasa, attended by Interior and National Administration Principal Secretary (PS) Dr Raymond Omollo, emphasised the importance of collaboration between the union and the government to realise teachers’ aspirations.
“I don’t want to be sarcastic; I have to be very open. You saw too well. When we were not able to work with the government, this union died. When we could not sit with the government, there was nothing in the name of KNUT,” stated Oyuu.
He noted that the union had once been on the brink of collapse due to strained relations with the Teachers Service Commission (TSC).
“Those who went with me to Kang’o ka Jaramogi, I mentioned to Mama Ida, and this was a quote of the Late Prime Minister, that trade unions are the second most authentic advocates of human rights after the church, but only when they focus strategically. So we have this strategy.”
Defending the recent meeting between 10,000 teachers and the Head of State at State House, Oyuu disclosed that the talks yielded major gains, including a review of the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) cycle from four years to between two and three years, in line with International Labour Organisation (ILO) recommendations.
“When we went to the State House, we complained about the meagre numbers in promotion. This is what the President said. Yes, Sh1 billion has been used for promotion, and the number is too small. An additional Sh1 billion shall be given to TSC to promote not 25,000 this time but 50,000 for every employment of teachers,” said the SG.
He further lauded the government for hiring 76,000 teachers over the last two and a half years, noting that TSC used to hire only 5,000 teachers per year.
On his part, PS Omollo assured teachers that the government remains committed to fulfilling its pledges, including the recruitment of 24,000 more teachers in January and reserving 20 per cent of units in the Affordable Housing Programme for teachers.
“We’ve also discussed issues to do with infrastructure; a total of 23,000 classrooms have been built over the last three years, but there’s a need for us to do much more than that so that our learners can have a very good environment,” stated the PS.
On the CBA, Dr Omollo affirmed that both sides had agreed to review every two to three years “so that we can give our teachers the best, as they are the ones nurturing our learners.”
The PS welcomed the Nyanza region’s support for the President as the country gears up for the general election in 2027.
“Lastly is the commitment by the Nyanza Regional Branches or Council of support for His Excellency the President and his administration, not just for what he has done, but also going forward into the next cycle of engagements and elections,” said the PS.
He added, “There’s that commitment that we will work together, because we have a good partnership that supports the education sector in this country, and it is critical that the programmes that the administration of President Ruto is undertaking be sustained.”
By Sadik Hassan
