Kenyan Teachers Set to Strike Over Unmet Demands

A nationwide teachers' strike is looming in Kenya, set to begin on Monday, after negotiations between the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) and teachers' unions broke down. The talks, held at the Kenya School of Government in Lower Kabete, aimed to address the unions' concerns but ended in stalemate.

Photocredit:Nairobi Wire

The TSC offered to implement Phase II of the 2021-2025 collective bargaining agreement, but the unions rejected the proposal, citing unmet demands related to teacher welfare. National Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi stated that the government lacks the funds to employ an additional 20,000 junior secondary school teachers or retain them on an internship basis, a key union demand.

Photocredit:Daily Nation

With schools set to reopen for the third term next week, the TSC has urged the unions to withdraw their strike notices to avoid disruptions. However, the unions remain resolute, determined to press for their demands. The strike threatens to impact hundreds of thousands of students, leaving parents and guardians anxious about the potential consequences.

The standoff between the government and teachers' unions has sparked concerns about the long-term effects on Kenya's education system. As the strike looms, all eyes are on the government and unions to find a resolution and prevent a potentially devastating disruption to the academic calendar.