Mombasa: The Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) has commended the government for addressing teachers’ long-standing challenges and pledged to support President William Ruto’s administration for improving teachers’ welfare. KNUT Secretary-General Collins Oyuu, speaking during a meeting with officials from 21 Nyanza region branches in Mombasa, attended by Interior and National Administration Principal Secretary (PS) Dr. Raymond Omollo, emphasized the importance of collaboration between the union and the government to realize teachers’ aspirations.
According to Kenya News Agency, Oyuu noted that the union had once been on the brink of collapse due to strained relations with the Teachers Service Commission (TSC). He highlighted the significance of strategic focus in trade unions as authentic advocates of human rights. Oyuu defended the recent meeting between 10,000 teachers and the Head of State at State House, revealing that the talks yielded major gains, including a review of the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) cycle from four years to between two and three years, aligning with International Labour Organisation (ILO) recommendations.
Oyuu disclosed that during the State House meeting, concerns were raised about the limited numbers in teacher promotions. President Ruto responded by allocating an additional Sh1 billion to the TSC to promote 50,000 teachers, doubling the previous figure of 25,000. Furthermore, Oyuu praised the government’s initiative of hiring 76,000 teachers over the last two and a half years, a significant increase compared to the previous annual recruitment of 5,000 teachers.
PS Omollo assured teachers of the government’s commitment to fulfilling its promises, including recruiting 24,000 more teachers in January and reserving 20% of units in the Affordable Housing Programme for teachers. He acknowledged the need for improved infrastructure, citing the construction of 23,000 classrooms over the past three years and emphasizing the necessity for further development to provide an optimal learning environment.
Regarding the CBA, Dr. Omollo confirmed that both parties agreed to review it every two to three years to ensure teachers receive the best support, acknowledging their crucial role in nurturing learners. He also welcomed the Nyanza region’s support for the President as the country prepares for the 2027 general election, emphasizing the importance of sustaining the educational programs initiated by President Ruto’s administration.