Teachers Defy Court Order To Call Off Strike

Teachers Defy Court Order To Call Off Strike

The government’s urgent efforts to end the ongoing teachers’ strike culminated in a series of meetings and a court order.

It should be noted that teachers who defy a court order risk receiving disciplinary show-cause letters. Justice James Rika issued a temporary injunction barring the Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (Kuppet) and its members from engaging in the planned strike.

Justice Rika ruled, “A temporary injunction is granted, restraining the respondent, its officials, members, employees, agents, or others acting on its behalf from withdrawing labor or participating in the intended industrial action on August 24, 2024, or any other time thereafter, pending further hearings.” As a result, secondary school teachers were required to return to classrooms by Wednesday to begin the new school term.

Kuppet is leading the strike, focusing on the plight of junior secondary school (JSS) teachers. After rumors of being sidelined by their employer, Kuppet officials chose not to make media appearances on Tuesday.

The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) was absent from a meeting called by the Ministry of Labour and Kuppet. Its reported that the meeting between Labour CS Alfred Mutua and Kuppet officials on Monday was part of efforts to resolve the strike, which has disrupted education for two days. However, sources indicate that the TSC did not attend due to a lack of new information and the union’s refusal to call off the strike.

As Monday’s meeting failed, another session between Members of Parliament and JSS teachers took place. The Budget and Education Committees of Parliament met with JSS intern teachers in an attempt to persuade them to end the strike. However, JSS spokesperson Boniface Omari stated that they remained committed to the strike, waiting for their demands to be met.

Intern teachers have withdrawn their labor, backing Kuppet in its strike, with Omari stating, “We fully support the strike and have stayed away from our workstations.”

Teachers Defy Court Order To Call Off Strike

MP Ndindi Nyoro assured the teachers that they have the government’s support in converting 46,000 JSS intern positions into permanent roles, and that funding is available. Nyoro encouraged the teachers to meet with the TSC to clarify timelines and processes.

Despite a court order halting the strike, Kuppet and the TSC were scheduled to meet again to discuss a resolution. Education CS Julius Migos noted that some demands had already been addressed, with the TSC working to ensure all teachers receive pay raises by Friday. He urged educators to return to work.

The core issue fueling the strike is the lack of permanent employment for JSS intern teachers, despite earlier promises. Negotiations had agreed to hire 26,000 teachers in the first phase in July. As the situation develops, Kuppet has not yet instructed its members to return to class.

In an effort to maintain order, the government is relying on school heads to ensure operations continue during the strike. The Kenya Secondary School Heads Association (Kessha) also encouraged parents to send their children back to school, assuring them of the students’ well-being during this period.