Strike: Kuppet vows to soldier on

The Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (Kuppet) has insisted that its strike is on.

Kuppet's National Governing Council (NGC) met on Tuesday and resolve that the strike will go on until the government yields to all its demands.

"The NGC in a meeting held this morning has resolved that the strike will continue until further advice is given by the council,” said Kuppet acting secretary general Moses Nthurima.

Consequently, the union has ordered members to stay away from the classroom and instead converge at the county secretariats for further instructions.

The teachers are demanding that their commuter and leave allowances and responsibility for management of schools be harmonised with those of other civil servants. They also want their promotions factored in.

“We have considered the positions that were taken by the Deputy President yesterday (Monday) and those taken from the negotiations at the Teachers Service Commission and also those with the Labour Ministry and the members resolution is that the strike continues. (READ: Kuppet set for strike Tuesday as Ruto asks unions to seek talks)

“We are sure that the government has what it takes to give teachers what we are demanding. The Deputy President promised to avail Sh1.8 billion, instantly, to lecturers and it is in the same way we are asking him, today, that he must avail the Sh20.8billion we are looking for to pay teachers for them to return to class,” Mr Nthurima said.

The NGC also ordered secondary school heads attending a conference in Mombasa to report to their respective schools and hand over management to the boards of governors until further notice.

Kuppet chairman Amboko Milemba fired a salvo at Knut warning the union to keep off its affairs.

“They should keep mum and let us conduct our business,” he said.