Teachers are an important part of the workforce in any progressive society and without their influence and influence there would not be a proper avenue for learning and knowledge enhancement. So every time teachers go on strike, it’s disastrous. The teachers’ strike can paralyze society and disrupt learning. Below are some notable teachers’ strikes in Kenya.
Incidents of teachers’ strikes in Kenya
The first teachers’ strike in Kenya took place in 1962 just before the country gained independence. Since that time there have been repeated instances in Kenya of teachers dropping their chalk in protest at one thing or another. It can be argued that the first strike was a “test drive” of how effectively the Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) could organize a strike in areas such as Nairobi, Baringo, Kilifi, North and South Nyanza and Nyeri.
The second strike, which took place later that same year, was declared illegal by the country’s first KANU government in October 1962. When it was declared illegal, some of the KNUT officers were later arrested. However, there were grievances regarding the decision of the labor courts, which forced the charges to be dropped indefinitely. In this strike, KNUT branches in Kiambu, Murang’a, Kisii, Central Nyanza, Machakos, Taita and Nakuru joined their counterparts in leading to a full-scale strike by national teachers. The problem was that the teachers’ union wanted one employer for all teachers in the country, but this problem remained unresolved and led to another strike.
On November 1966, the third teachers’ strike took place, and although it was short-lived, it made history when the government finally dismantled its position and a Employers for teachers, and so the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) was formed through a bill introduced by Parliament then Secretary of Education Jeremiah Nyagah.
But that did not stop another strike event. The fourth strike took place in November 1969. The need for a Trust Deed between TSC and KNUT resulted in the formation of the Teachers Service Remuneration Committee (TSRC) which formulated the recommendations of both parties and forwarded them to the Department. However, the ministry was unwilling to implement the said recommendations that led to the strike, but after slacking off for a while, the government eventually accepted the recommendations, but teachers barely went on strike again in October 1997, demanding 300%. salary increase. Led by the late voice unionist Ambrose Odongo, teachers threatened to paralyze and boycott not only study but exam dates. Since it was an election year former retired President Daniel Arap Moi accused the opposition of fueling the strike and berated the late Odongo. This did not go down well with the teachers and they showed their dissatisfaction through peaceful street marches.
The January 2009 strike was hit as the “mother of all strikes as nearly 8 million children were affected by the go-slow. The teachers wanted a sum of Sh19 billion, but with much persuasion from the government, they went back to school with promises of receiving Sh17.3 billion during periods where economic problems were cited as the challenge, not the full one amount to pay. In September 2011, teachers again put down their tools, complaining that they were understaffed to cope with the influx of students due to the introduction of free primary education by Kenya’s third president, Mwai Kibaki’s government.
In July 2013, more teachers went on strike as the teachers demanded a 300% wage increase and expense allowance. The strike lasted 24 days and, although found illegal by the labor tribunal, teachers union leader Wilson Sossion retained his position and the teachers continued the strike. However, Sossion was arrested along with his assistant and this time charged and jailed, despite opting to post bail. The union and its leaders were charged Sh6 million for contempt of court. Despite this, the teachers returned to work after striking a deal led by Vice President William Ruto.
With teachers not working most of July, TSC wanted to withhold July pay, prompting the unionist to threaten another strike. President Uhuru Kenyatta intervened, however, promising teachers that salaries would be paid in full in exchange for them implementing the laptop project that was part of the presidential manifesto during the election period.
In September 2015 it was time again for teachers to go on strike. This was led by KNUT and the Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers. The reason for the industrial action was the government’s refusal to comply with the August ruling by the Kenyan Supreme Court, which required it to increase teachers’ salaries by at least 50 percent. The government blamed the unavailability of funds to implement the court ruling for its refusal. The strike began on September 1st and lasted three weeks. This prompted the government to order the closure of all public schools in the country.
The courts once again came to the rescue in a decision on Friday, September 25, ordering teachers to keep their placards and return to class for a period of 90 days. Both parties have also been instructed to appoint mediators who will deal with the issue within 90 days.
Since then, there have been several agreements, disagreements and counter-agreements, as well as several threats against KNUT going on strike. But there seems to be a warm working relationship between the KNUT and the TSC more than ever. We hope it stays that way, and we hope that the recent calls for a nationwide teachers’ strike do not go as planned, leaving Kenya’s education system, whose stability currently seems fragile, more solid than it is.