Clash of Teacher Union Titans: KNUT and KUPPET Leaders Spar Live Over Strike Actions and TSC Disputes

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Clash of Teacher Union Titans: KNUT and KUPPET Leaders Spar Live Over Strike Actions and TSC Disputes

On Friday, August 30, Kenyans witnessed an unusual event as the Secretary Generals of the Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) and Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) faced off live on air.

KUPPET has stood firm on its industrial action, with Secretary General Akelo Misori asserting that the strike will proceed despite a recent court ruling.

In contrast, KNUT decided to end their strike at the last minute, even though teachers had originally planned to commence their strike on Monday, August 26.

Amid the ongoing uncertainty in Kenya’s education sector, KNUT’s Collins Oyuu and KUPPET Secretary General Akelo Misori appeared together in an interview with Spice FM to clarify the disputes between the two unions.

As anticipated, there were heated exchanges between the leaders. Oyuu claimed that KNUT’s decision to call off the strike was because some of the demands from both unions were met and that the welfare of students was a key factor in their decision.

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He questioned, “If you negotiate with 10 issues and resolve 7, should you continue pushing for the remaining 3? It’s risky to persist with strike action when major issues have been addressed.”

Upon joining the discussion, Misori accused KNUT of conspiring with the Teachers Service Commission (TSC), questioning why KNUT ended their strike despite unresolved issues in the Collective Bargaining Agreement.

Misori criticized the TSC for not officially implementing the CBA, despite verbal assurances of having funds for teacher payments. Oyuu added that the TSC had proposed a joint press release to end the strike, but KUPPET declined.

Misori’s major concern revolves around the TSC’s failure to address the promotion of 130,000 teachers who have been on the same salary and position for over a decade, as well as the need for 46,000 additional teachers to be confirmed in permanent and pensionable positions.

Clash of Teacher Union Titans: KNUT and KUPPET Leaders Spar Live Over Strike Actions and TSC Disputes

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