NAIROBI, Kenya – The Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) has issued a seven-day ultimatum to the Teachers Service Commission (TSC), demanding a counteroffer in the stalled Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) negotiations for the 2025–2029 cycle.
KNUT Secretary-General Collins Oyuu, speaking during a press briefing on Tuesday, accused the TSC of dragging its feet despite the expiry of the 2021–2025 CBA on June 30.
“We have told the Teachers Service Commission to prepare within seven days and present a counteroffer,” said Oyuu. “What we want is a counteroffer. Your preparation is not our concern.”
Oyuu revealed that the union had already held extensive consultations with multiple arms of government in anticipation of the employer’s proposal.
He expressed frustration over the TSC’s silence, saying it had left teachers across the country disappointed.
“Teachers of this country are disappointed. The Kenya National Union of Teachers did not expect this. What we expected was a counteroffer,” he added.
The union now wants urgent talks to finalize a new deal, with Oyuu emphasizing the importance of time given the lapse of the previous four-year agreement.
“Time is of the essence. The 2021–2025 CBA elapsed on June 30. Today is July 1, and there is no counteroffer yet. We shall not accept anything until the TSC places a counteroffer on the table,” he said.
KNUT’s 2025–2029 CBA Demands:
- 60pc annual wage increase based on the basic salary
- 30pc rise in allowances across all teacher grades
- Expanded and enhanced medical cover for all teachers
- Review and expansion of hardship allowances, including resistance to the reclassification or removal of existing hardship zones
Oyuu also criticized TSC’s alleged plans to remove some regions from the hardship category, arguing that doing so would undermine the well-being of educators working in marginalized and underserved areas.
KNUT has now put the ball firmly in TSC’s court, warning that failure to respond within the one-week window could trigger further action, potentially disrupting the education sector just as schools resume learning after the mid-year break.
