The Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (Kuppet) stands to lose a significant number of its members if junior school teachers make good their threat to exit the union, citing lack of representation.
The teachers, under the Kenya Junior School Teachers Association (Kejusta), accused the Kuppet leadership of betrayal, neglect and prioritising the monthly union dues they receive over their professional welfare.
The 46,000 teachers under the lobby were recently absorbed by the government after two years of service as interns.
Two percent of their basic salary, amounting to Sh890 per member, is deducted and sent to the union monthly. This translates to Sh41 million every month.
Kejusta Chairperson James Odhiambo stated that Kuppet has consistently failed to advocate for their wishes, particularly the push for professional and administrative autonomy for junior school.
"Kuppet has shown more interest in our dues than in our welfare. Despite the significant number of junior school teachers contributing to the union, they offered us few positions in Kuppet, a clear indication that our value and concerns are not taken seriously," Mr Odhiambo said.
The core dispute stems from Kuppet’s alleged abandonment of the quest for junior school autonomy, to operate separately from secondary schools.
Mr Odhiambo revealed that Kejusta initially approached Kuppet for support in funding their legal advocacy at the High Court. However, the union turned them down.
Kejusta submitted a petition for forwarding to the National Assembly. However, Mr Odhiambo said Kuppet informed them it first needed to meet the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) for consultations.
"It is now evident that Kuppet has completely shifted its position, abandoning us to push our agendas. We have seen the officials advocating for things that do not go well with us. This sudden change of narrative neither aligns with the expectations of junior school teachers nor addresses the structural and professional challenges facing the sub-sector," Mr Odhiambo stated.
"We cannot continue operating under leadership that neglects our needs while benefiting from our membership. It is time for junior school teachers to chart a new path and seek a union that respects, recognises, and represents us fully," the chairperson concluded.
“Whatever they want is something we have conversed over time and if they want to leave we cannot stop them. Joining a union is a choice. You have a right to form, join and participate. For Kuppet going to court is a last resort. You cannot go to court with an employer before sufficient engagement which ours has not stopped,” said the union leader.
The Kuppet official defended the union saying it has been engaging education stakeholders including the employer and the government on the JS challenges.
“We have even created a space for them in the union to represent their own interests. In the upcoming elections the JS teachers have got a slot. But if they are leaving because we are not representing them well that is now beyond me,” said the official.
The official further said going to court and on strike are extreme path of the engagement saying Kuppet has not reached at that level.
Last week, National Chairman Mr Omboko Milemba said Kuppet was scheduled to meet the TSC in Naivasha to discuss critical issues concerning JS teachers, including the confirmation of the 20,000 interns into permanent and pensionable contracts and the promotion matrix for JS teachers.
“TSC laws does not have capacity, authority or any powers to employ teachers as interns. They have to employ teachers on permanent and pensionable basis. They are wasting the 20,000 teachers who should have never been employed as interns,” said Mr Milemba.
