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Union faults TSC over delayed Ruto pledges to teachers
President William Ruto (second left), Deputy President Kithure Kindiki (left), Knut First National Vice chairman Malel Langat (right) and Kuppet chairman Omboko Milemba during a meeting with more than 10,000 teachers at State House, Nairobi, on September 13, 2025.
Pressure is mounting on the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) due to delays in implementing commitments made by President William Ruto. A union has warned that key pledges risk stalling weeks after high-level talks at the State House.
The Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) has expressed concerns after a two-day review meeting with the commission. The discussions evaluated the progress made on the resolutions agreed upon during the President’s extraordinary meeting, which was attended by around 10,000 people on 13 September 2025.
The commitments under review include reducing the 2025–2029 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) cycle from four to two years, promoting an additional 25,000 teachers, confirming 20,000 intern teachers in permanent, pensionable roles, and allocating 20 per cent of houses under the Ruto administration’s Affordable Housing Programme.
Others include the introduction of superior medical coverage, a review of the Career Progression Guidelines (CPGs) and reforms to pension administration.
In a statement, Kuppet Secretary General Akelo Misori said the union was alarmed by the slow pace of action, particularly with regard to commitments dependent on funding.
'We were shocked that the commission had not requested any funding from Parliament for the promotion of an additional 25,000 teachers in the upcoming supplementary budget, which is due by the end of January 2026,' said Mr Misori.
Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (Kuppet) Secretary-General Akelo Misori.
Kuppet said that the commission had briefed the union on consultations with key government agencies, including the Salaries and Remuneration Commission. The union also welcomed plans to establish a liaison desk at the National Treasury to speed up the processing of teachers’ pensions.
The union also acknowledged reforms to disciplinary procedures that have reduced delays in hearings and determinations of cases and appeals.
However, the union criticised the TSC for failing to convene the technical committee responsible for reviewing teachers’ job descriptions — a prerequisite for revising the CPGs. The committee, which includes a Kuppet representative, has not met for over five months since its formation.
“We are also concerned by the Commission’s failure to convene the technical committee responsible for reviewing teachers’ job descriptions, which is a prerequisite for revising the CPGs,” said Mr Misori.
The union also expressed dissatisfaction with the TSC's policy guidelines on intern teachers, warning that open-ended internship arrangements without clear confirmation timelines risk turning teachers into casual workers.
“The union also expressed dissatisfaction with the Commission’s policy guidelines on intern teachers, which we fear may turn teachers into casual workers. The guidelines provide for open-ended internship service without specific timelines for confirming intern teachers to permanent positions,” said Mr Misori.
The union said that the most contentious issue is the commission’s position that a lack of funding has hindered the confirmation of 20,000 intern teachers into permanent employment, despite not having sought the required funds from the Kenyan parliament.
“Most regrettably, the commission blames funding for its failure to convert 20,000 current interns into permanent employees, yet it did not seek such funding from Parliament. It is a case of the TSC having its cake and eating it,” said Mr Misori.
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