Background of the ECDE teachers’ strike

The industrial dispute intensified in August 2026 after ECDE teachers issued demands to the county government and proceeded with a strike when their concerns remained unresolved.

According to reports published during the dispute, the teachers began their industrial action on August 24, 2026, following the expiry of their strike notice. They were organised under KUNOPPET, whose Nyamira Branch officials included chairman Kasmirl Mose, secretary Eunice Momanyi and treasurer Linet Nyakundi. One of the major issues was the implementation of salary adjustments recommended by the Salaries and Remuneration Commission. Teachers argued that their salaries had not been adjusted appropriately despite previous recommendations.

Reports during the strike indicated that many ECDE teachers earned between KSh12,000 and KSh18,000 per month, depending on their qualifications and employment arrangements. Some teachers reported earnings of approximately KSh12,600.The teachers argued that their salaries were inadequate to meet basic living expenses, including food, housing, transport, family needs and other financial obligations. They also maintained that remuneration should reflect their qualifications, responsibilities and the important role they play in early childhood education.

The September agreement addressed this concern by confirming that salary adjustments for ECDE teachers already employed on permanent and pensionable terms had been incorporated into the September 2026 payroll.Permanent and pensionable employment

Job security was another major issue behind the strike.

Teachers complained that some of their colleagues had worked for several years under contract arrangements without receiving the employment security and retirement benefits associated with permanent and pensionable terms.

They argued that long-serving teachers should not continue working under uncertain conditions when they perform essential duties in public education centres.

Permanent and pensionable employment can provide greater security, predictable career progression and access to retirement benefits, subject to the applicable employment rules.Recognition of KUNOPPET by the county government

The dispute also involved the formal recognition of the Kenya Union of Pre-Primary Education Teachers as a representative of ECDE teachers in Nyamira County.

KUNOPPET wanted the county government to sign a recognition agreement, enabling the union to establish a formal framework for engaging the employer on matters affecting its members.

Before the settlement, the county government had questioned whether the union met the legal membership threshold for recognition. In August, the county's education leadership said it had received signed membership details for 93 teachers out of a workforce of 882, arguing that this was insufficient for recognition.The negotiations that ended the strike followed intervention by Governor Amos Nyaribo's administration.

According to the county government's announcement, the meeting took place at the Governor's Boardroom on September 21, 2026, bringing together county officials and representatives of KUNOPPET's Nyamira Branch.

The meeting was chaired by County Secretary Jack Magara, with county executive officials participating in discussions aimed at resolving the disagreement.

The intervention provided an opportunity for both sides to move away from public confrontation and focus on specific measures that could address the teachers' concerns. Strike disrupted learning in public ECDE centres

The strike had serious implications for children attending public ECDE centres across Nyamira County.

According to the county government's announcement, learning was expected to resume in all 408 public ECDE centres from September 22, 2026, following the agreement. Why ECDE teachers are important in Kenya

Early Childhood Development Education is an important stage in Kenya's education system because it prepares children for primary school and subsequent levels of learning.

ECDE teachers introduce learners to foundational literacy, numeracy, communication, creativity and social development.

They also help identify children who may need additional educational support and encourage positive habits that contribute to their development.

In Nyamira County, the dispute highlighted a wider question about how county governments can ensure that educators responsible for foundational learning receive adequate support.The commitment to convert contract teachers to permanent and pensionable terms by July 1, 2027, was a particularly important part of the settlement.

For teachers who have served for years without long-term employment security, the promise offers the prospect of greater stability.

However, implementation requires more than announcing a deadline. The county will need to establish the number of eligible teachers, verify employment records, complete the necessary administrative procedures and make appropriate budgetary arrangements.Permanent employment: The administration should publish a clear implementation plan for converting eligible contract teachers by July 1, 2027.

Union recognition: The recognition agreement with KUNOPPET should be finalised through the appropriate statutory procedures.

Union contributions: Authorised deductions and remittances should begin once the necessary legal and administrative requirements are satisfied.

Working conditions: The county should continue addressing classroom facilities, teaching materials, staffing and other issues that affect learning.

Regular consultation: County officials and union representatives should maintain communication to resolve emerging disputes before they result in another strike.The dispute between Early Childhood Development Education (ECDE) teachers and the Nyamira County Government has highlighted growing concerns over teachers’ salaries, job security, promotions and working conditions. The disagreement disrupted learning in public ECDE centres as teachers demanded better employment terms and implementation of salary recommendations issued by the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC).

The dispute eventually took a positive turn on September 21, 2026, when the county government and officials of the Kenya Union of Pre-Primary Education Teachers (KUNOPPET), Nyamira Branch, reached an agreement to end the strike. The agreement followed intervention by Governor Amos Nyaribo’s administration and provided a framework for addressing the teachers’ grievances.