A storm is brewing in the Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (Kuppet), with teachers and some branch officials blaming national leaders for signing a collective bargaining agreement (CBA) last month without adequate consultation.
Teachers have also raised concerns over what they termed “unexplained” deductions on their July salaries, which were forwarded to the Kuppet national office. Branch officials have since written to the national office seeking clarification regarding the nature of the deductions by the Teachers Service Commission (TSC).
However, the union’s Secretary-General, Akelo Misori, told the Daily Nation that the TSC deducted dues it had previously failed to remit from teachers’ salaries during last year’s industrial action.
Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers Secretary General Akelo Misori speaks to the media in Nairobi on July 18, 2025.
Photo credit: Wilfred Nyangaresi | Nation Media Group
“During last year’s strike, three months’ union dues were not remitted. That created commotion in the union because salaries and loans were not paid, alongside other union commitments. But the High Court found the TSC at fault, and that ruling is what triggered the deductions,” said Mr Misori.
“We have since spoken to TSC to halt the deductions. There was a court order related to that, but we’ve already instructed them to stop,” he added.
Mr Misori acknowledged the growing pressure from union branch officials but claimed the issue was being politicised, especially with Kuppet elections scheduled in five months.
“Branch secretaries are up in arms, but they know that money was borrowed to pay them. What’s happening is political capitalisation. This is a campaign period, and they fear it might jeopardise their chances. But the explanation needs to be given within that context – it is not as dramatic as it’s being portrayed. Yes, it’s caused underfunding, but there’s no need to panic. We’ve asked TSC to stop it,” he said.
Laikipia Branch Executive Secretary, Robert Miano, accused the national office of signing the CBA without informing or consulting the grassroots leadership. He claimed branches were completely sidelined and only learnt of the agreement after it was concluded.
“The national office signed the CBA. Branches were not involved. We didn’t even know what they were signing. They never shared the offer, whether good or bad. We’ve asked them for a copy of the signed document, but they haven’t shared it,” said Mr Miano.
Mr Miano further revealed that branch officials raised over Sh420 million during the strike period to sustain union operations – funds he says were collected directly from branches.
“Teachers were never asked to refund any of that money. Branches bore the cost, not individual teachers. So it’s unfair for the national office to impose deductions again. There’s always a standard deduction for union dues, but now there’s an additional, unexplained one. The union should refund that money. We don’t want it,” he added.
He dismissed claims by Mr Misori that the backlash is politically motivated, arguing that the deductions are evident on teachers’ payslips and cannot be reduced to politics.
“You’ve taken my money. I’ve seen it. You’ve deducted my Sh600 – the official one. I’m not supposed to pay you again. But then you also take another Sh600. How is that political?” he asked.
Sabala Inyeni, Kuppet branch secretary in Vihiga County, also accused the union’s top leadership of orchestrating illegal deductions in what he termed a politically motivated scheme designed to influence upcoming elections.
CBA failed to live up to expectations
“This isn’t an accounting error or an innocent deduction. It’s deliberate and calculated. All Kuppet members were affected. There’s not a single member who escaped this deduction,” he told the Daily Nation .
He added that the national governing Council – the body mandated to approve such measures – was never consulted.
“We had our meeting on 11 July in Nairobi, and I can confirm with certainty that this matter was never discussed, not even mentioned,” he said.
According to Mr Inyeni, the deductions, listed under “national office” on payslips, range between Sh450 and Sh600 per teacher. With over 150,000 members affected, the union could have collected more than Sh90 million in a single month.
“Teachers were already disappointed by the so-called salary increment. Imagine getting a raise, only for a mysterious deduction to show up on your payslip. What message are we sending? We’re giving with one hand and taking with the other? What kind of leadership is that?” he asked.
Mr Inyeni linked the deductions to internal union politics, claiming they were part of a strategy to influence the upcoming branch and national elections, scheduled for January and April 2026 respectively.
“This isn’t just about salaries – it’s about union politics, plain and simple. It’s all tied to succession politics in Kuppet. National officials want to cling to power. With branch elections approaching, they’re manipulating the field even before the ballot,” he claimed.
Several Kuppet branches – including Vihiga, Bungoma, and Nyamira – have issued public statements and letters demanding an immediate halt to the deductions and full refunds.
“Stopping the deduction is not enough. We want a full refund. We want accountability. Teachers are not a cash cow. This union belongs to us. How can deductions be made without our consent, and no one explains where the money went? That money must not fund political wars. Teachers’ sweat cannot bankroll succession politics,” said Mr Inyeni.
He added that teachers have lost faith in the union leadership, especially after the much-hyped CBA failed to live up to expectations.
“After four years of waiting, how do you tell a teacher their increment is Sh256? How do you look them in the eye? What kind of union allows that to happen and then goes silent?” he asked.
