Teachers in Nyeri County have threatened to slow down over the intended reduction of the budgetary allocation for the Teachers Service Commission (TSC), threatening the continued implementation of CBA-backed benefits.

According to the Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) in Nyeri, its members will be asked to withdraw their services at the beginning of the third term over an anticipated slashing of Kes 10 billion.

KNUT official Patrick Karinga said the move will impact the implementation of a Collective Bargaining Agreement inked in 2021.

Further, he said the union had noted payslip disparities arising from TSC’s budget struggles.

“Teachers of this country will resort to industrial action next month. We have noticed that teachers have been denied their payrise which the 2021/25 CBA entitles them to.”

Additionally, he termed the planned reduction of TSC’s budget due to the withdrawal of the Finance Bill 2024 immoral.

This comes as the National Treasury seeks to slash budgets for various ministries and departments to bridge a budget deficit following the Finance Bill 2024 fallout.

The 2024/25 Financial Year Supplementary Estimates I projects a TSC budget of Kes 347.49 billion, down from the initial allocation of Kes 357.77 billion.
Reacting to the revised figures, TSC told the National Assembly Departmental Committee of Education that the budget cut would impede its programs, including hiring teachers.

KNUT isniststed that it will protect the second phase of salary increaments for its members under the CBA terming failure by TSC to do so a violation of labour rights.

“The government must award teachers nothing short of increament of between 2.5 to 9 percent which is their right,” Karinga said.