Nairobi, Kenya – The education sector faces uncertainty as over 400,000 teachers across the country threaten to strike just as schools reopen for the third term. The industrial action, spearheaded by the Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) and the Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET), comes amid stalled negotiations with the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) over demands for permanent employment, promotion, and the recruitment of additional staff. Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi has warned that financial constraints, including a Sh13 billion shortfall in the TSC budget, limit the government’s ability to meet all union demands.
The strike looms over a critical examination period, raising concerns among parents, students, and school administrators. Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Migos has urged stakeholders to prioritize dialogue and avoid disrupting learning, while Kenya Secondary Schools Heads Association chairman Willy Kuria emphasized the importance of safeguarding exam schedules. Despite these calls, KUPPET officials insist the strike will proceed, mobilizing teachers nationwide and scheduling religious gatherings to garner support ahead of the action.
Reactions to the looming strike have been mixed. Some parents and education advocates stress the urgency of addressing teachers’ grievances to protect learning outcomes, while others urge unions to consider the broader impact on students’ education. The standoff is viewed as a test for the Kenya Kwanza administration, challenging the new Cabinet secretaries to balance fiscal realities with labor rights and ensuring that Kenya’s education calendar remains on track.