Negotiations for better remuneration of teachers will begin today, even as the two main unions approach the talks under a cloud of suspicion of betrayal.
The Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (Kuppet) has warned its counterpart, the Kenya National Union of Teachers (Knut) not to betray them “like they did the last time” the two negotiated a collective bargaining agreement (CBA) with the Teachers Service Commission (TSC).
At the time, after days of talks, the unions accused each other of betrayal and ended up signing non-monetary CBAs. Each union signs a separate agreement with the employer.
From left: Knut deputy Secretary-General Hesbon Otieno, Kuppet Secretary-General Akelo Misori, and Kusnet Secretary-General James Torome during the Kenya Secondary School Heads Association Conference in Mombasa on June 27, 2025.
Photo credit: Kevin Odit | Nation Media Group
The unions have called for unity to ensure that all their demands are met during the crucial talks for the 2025-2029 CBA.
The Kenya Union of Special Needs Education Teachers is also set to hold talks with TSC over a new CBA.
Senior officials of Kuppet and Knut traded barbs when they addressed the annual Kenya Secondary Schools Heads Association (Kessha) conference in Mombasa.
“We must show solidarity through actions. The union should be felt. It’s not about strikes, industrial action is a tool of last resort. We already received a letter. We are meeting TSC to discuss the CBA negotiations,” said Kuppet Secretary-General Akelo Misori.
The negotiations will cover salary and allowances increment, improved medical cover, among other critical issues affecting teachers in public schools. Mr Misori said they will agitate for retention of the current 45 zones gazetted as hardship areas, and inclusion of more.
“The areas should be expanded to include some areas in Baringo, Migori, Bomet and Kilifi counties. We need an expansion of hardship areas,” said Mr Misori.
“I have heard my brother saying that we are not ready for a cashless CBA. Last time, Mr [Hesbon] Otieno (Knut, deputy secretary-general), we lost that CBA simply because they left me hanging and they went home. They left us. It was so bizarre. What did you expect me to have done?” asked Mr Misori.
Absence of the agreements
“This time round, I want him to confirm to you that he is ready to go with us home. We must deliver a colourful CBA.”
“We did not leave you hanging. But that is a discussion for another day. You know what made you hang. We are not compromised. If you [teachers] get a salary increment, I also get one because I am paid by you. It is your 2 per cent that pays me,” said Mr Otieno.
On the teachers’ medical insurance scheme, the union leader urged Kuppet to back Knut to fight for an improved cover.
“This is teachers’ money. Let us have a separate conversation that thinks about the treatment of our teachers in these facilities. We need a proper conversation,” said Mr Otieno.
Kuppet Chairperson Omboko Milemba, who is also the Emuhaya MP, said CBA negotiations should be done every two years instead of four years, and warned that in the absence of the agreements, chaos would return to the education sector.
“Every December there was a strike and the bet would be the national exams. It is Kuppet that brought CBAs in place. We came here like we did during Kessha, President Uhuru Kenyatta called us and asked for a solution; we told him CBA is the way to go,” he said.
Mr Milemba said the former President told the union to ensure the negotiations begin before the budget is passed so that it the CBA is covered.
“It is unfortunate that the money is not there but we are looking forward to a supplementary budget that must be done so that the teachers’ CBA is in place,” said the MP.
Issues affecting teachers
Mr Milemba said Knut lacked a platform to speak on issues affecting teachers and relies on Kuppet, which has officials serving as members of the National Assembly.
“They [Knut] even rely on Kuppet through me and other officials to present the issues. If you listened to me, I represented employment of P1 teachers. I realised we must do that because the space where we are is a critical space for not only secondary school teachers but also primary and ECDE,” he explained.
Mr Misori assured secondary school teachers that the union will “fight, tooth and nail” to ensure that their terms are improved.
“We will not tire to negotiate for better terms, but I want to also tell you one thing colleagues, no employer would wish to pay employees better. It is not very easy to negotiate, but we must negotiate for a new CBA,” he said.
