Aasai

Government officials, as well as leaders of teachers unions and their organisations, met on Friday in last-minute preparations for a major meeting with President William Ruto at State House, Nairobi on Saturday. On Wednesday, the leaders met with the Primary Education Secretary, Prof Julius Bitok, at the ministrys headquarters, Jogoo House, where they agreed on teacher representatives for the historic event. 

The meeting was originally scheduled to be held on Friday and was attended by a small number of guests, but was postponed to Saturday. Instead, the President invited a political delegation from Muranga County for the day, and on Thursday, he hosted a similar delegation from Kisii.

 The Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) has been given the largest number of seats, 3,300 representatives. The Union of Secondary Education Teachers (KUPPET) will be represented by 2,000 teachers, while the Union of Special Education Teachers (KUSNET) will get only 400 seats.

 The Kenya Primary School Principals Association (KEPSHA) will be represented by 2,300 teachers, while the Kenya Secondary School Principals Association (KESSHA) will receive 2,000 seats. Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba met with leaders of the parties to provide direction on how they will present their arguments to the President.

 It was explained that only the party secretaries-general and chairpersons of the organizations will speak officially. The two-hour meeting with Prof Bitok aimed to set the agenda for discussion and finalize the structure of the 10,000 teachers’ delegation that will meet President Ruto. 

Among the issues to be discussed are the living conditions of teachers, working conditions, and the role of teachers in the implementation of education reforms in the country. 

The leaders of the parties agreed to present a common position on issues of salaries, benefits, and teachers’ interests, while expressing their willingness to collaborate with the government in reforms in the education sector. State House spokesperson Hussein Mohammed confirmed that the meeting was only about education issues, saying that “State House is a public place and not the property of certain individuals”. KEPSHA Chairman, Mr Fuad Ali, said that one of the main points to be presented is the delay in funding for schools – a situation that has disrupted the academic calendar and forced some school principals to send students home. 

Teachers’ unions are also expected to push for the implementation of collective bargaining agreements (CBAs), better working conditions, and clarification on the government’s position on pension contributions. 

The President is also expected to reassure school principals about the new higher education funding system, which has been criticized for delays in funding and confusion among parents and students. The meeting comes at a time when pressure has increased on the government to demonstrate commitment to addressing education challenges, with frequent policy changes threatening the stability of the education sector for teachers, students, and parents.