Kuppet pushes for better pay, decent housing for teachers
Kuppet National Vice chairman Julius Korir (left), Secretary General Akelo Misori (centre) and Deputy Secretary General Moses Nturima during a teachers' meeting at AIC Mokombet Church in Uasin Gishu County. The Union is pushing for increment of salaries, and harmonisation of house allowance for its members. Photo/Jeremiah Choge
The Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) is demanding a salary increment of between 50 to 100 percent for their members in their new Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) to cope with the high cost of living.
According to Kuppet Secretary General Akelo Misori, from 2017 to 2024, there has been a huge price increment especially in oil products.
"We are also proposing for the harmonisation of house allowance to match that of Nairobi City and increase it by 20 percent. We are also calling for the establishment of extraneous kitty because teachers stand for long hours in covering their curriculum," said Mr Misori accompanied by other top Union officials.
The Union is also demanding for risk allowance for teachers working in hardship areas and those working in laboratories and workshops to cater for injuries they may incur in their line of duty.
In their Memorandum of demands presented to President William Ruto in State House last week, the Union is also demanding for increase in commuter allowance by 20 percent which has not been reviewed since 2013.
The Union is also demanding for the harmonisation of House allowance for its members in line with Mombasa, Nairobi, Eldoret, and Nakuru.
Speaking during Kuppet meeting at AIC Mokombet Church in Uasin Gishu County, the Union officials who also included Moses Nturima (Deputy Secretary General) and Julius Korir (Kuppet National Vice chairman) defended the union's move to suspend the recent industrial action which paralysed learning for more than one month countrywide.
The move call off the strike by the National office caused some resentment from some Union branches who complained they were not involved and disowned the action.
"We set to achieve certain things in the industrial action. When you engage the employer in useful talks and you have signed and secured something, you are technically out of that strike," said Mr Misori.
"One major thing you should not allow the employer to do is to announce the outcome of your deliberation, whether it is bad or good you take the lead," added the Kuppet official.
Mr Nturima on his part called on the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) to recognise teachers those teachers with relevant qualifications for JSS teachers but still serving as primary school teachers.
He also called for the improvement of renumeration and terms of service for Junior Secondary School (JSS) teachers whom he noted perform almost the same duties as their secondary counterparts.
Mr Korir raised concern over upsurge in cases of teachers engaging in illicit sexual affairs with their learners.
"This has seen many teachers interdicted. Please colleagues, let's desist from this vice which is ruining our noble profession," said Mr Korir.
He however raised concern over delay in resolving of disciplinary cases involving teachers and called for the decentralisation of the same to the county or subcounty as it currently takes too long.
Mr Korir also raised concern over cases of teachers engaging in betting activities which he noted has resulted to many of them deserting duty.
He said examiners of National Examination were operating under very poor working conditions and called on the Kenya National Examination Council (Knec) to improve their terms of service.
