Kenya’s schools closed as teachers stay out on strike — historical but demonstrates recurring instability in education sector

Kenya ordered all public schools to close indefinitely because of a three-week-old strike by 280,000 public school teachers over pay disputes.
Key Points:
The strike followed a court ruling granting teachers a 50–60% pay rise, which the government contested.
High school students with upcoming exams were allowed to attend school, but teacher availability was uncertain.
Private schools were instructed to close, though many defied the order; the High Court ruled that the government could not mandate closures for private schools.
Teachers, represented by KNUT Secretary-General Wilson Sossion, refused to return to work until their demands were met.
President Uhuru Kenyatta described the pay demands as unaffordable and said teachers were overpaid relative to other African countries, though teacher advocates highlighted high student–teacher ratios (50:1 in primary, 29:1 in secondary).
The strike highlighted the urgent need for 80,000 additional teachers to address overcrowding and improve learning outcomes.
Around one million primary-age children were out of school during this period.
Legal proceedings were scheduled to determine the strike’s legality.
Implications:
The strike disrupted education nationwide, demonstrating the systemic challenges in teacher staffing, pay structures, and ensuring uninterrupted learning for millions of students.