KUPPET Wants TSC to Review 2021–2025 CBA and Promote Teachers
The Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers is now asking the government to pay the teachers’ outstanding debts.
Omboko Milemba, who is the national chairperson of the union, said that talks are going on between the union and President William Ruto to raise Sh100 billion to pay teachers’ outstanding bills.
He delivered a speech during the Kuppet annual general meeting on Saturday at St. Columbans High School in Kitale.
He stated that the Teachers Service Commission must examine the collective bargaining agreement (CBA) for 2021–2025 to promote teachers.
“The five-year CBA will quantify promotions for deputy principals, heads of departments, and acting principals who had worked for long periods without pay,” he said.
Currently, teachers in job group B1 earn a basic salary of Sh24,250.
If the plans are implemented, teachers in job group D5 could get a raise of up to Sh89,016.
This means that the highest-paid educator will receive Sh237,376 instead of the current Sh148,360.
Milemba also asked the government to make the National Health Insurance Fund the health insurance plan for teachers.
“The government should have in the first place allowed several medical insurers to offer services to teachers than having them locked to one,” he said.
Milemba stated that beneficiaries and their families had endured unimaginable hardship.
Currently, AON Minet provides instructors and their families with medical insurance.
Milemba asked the TSC to sign a memorandum of understanding with the NHIF so that teachers could start getting health care.
“NHIF being a government body should not be challenged by private insurance providers to offer services to teachers and any other government worker,” he said.
The lawmaker thought it was funny that NHIF gives some civil servants a full package while AON Minet gives services to teachers.
Jeany Mutama, who is in charge of Trans Nzoia Lands and is the assistant treasurer of Kuppet, said that the county government would help teachers get ahead financially.
Patrick Gacheru, director of Environment, Water, and Climate Change, urged teachers not to be left behind in the effort to increase the country’s forest cover.
Jackson Wanyungu, an executive from the Department of Public Works, challenged the teachers’ leadership to unite to meet their goals.
“The county government looks at you as residents with rights to participate in issues and principles of governance,” he said.
Governor George Natembeya’s representative in the Department of Education and Vocational Training, Julie Kichwen, stated that Early Child Development Education caregivers would be engaged on permanent and pensionable terms.
She stated that money had been set aside to supplement a scholarship program for gifted but financially disadvantaged students.
“Funds for capitation of vocational training have also been set aside in the supplementary budget to help learners who complete vocational training to have start ups,” she said.
