The Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) on Sunday called off the planned nationwide teachers strike scheduled for Monday 26, 2024.
In a statement, KNUT Secretary General Collin Henry Oyuu stated that the suspension follows a day-long meeting of the Union’s National Executive Council (NEC).
"The NEC has, therefore, today August 25, 2024, agreed to withdraw the strike action notice which was elapsing midnight August 25, 2024 since we have commenced addressing the remaining matters administratively. In light of the latest developments, we direct our teachers to resume duty effective Monday, August 26, 2024," Oyuu said.
KNUT stated that it arrived at the decision after considering all options, the developments of the matters at hand, and the level of commitment by both the government, TSC, and the teachers' position in driving the education agenda.
KNUT said that despite being unconvinced by some of the steps taken by the government and TSC to address pressing concerns, it believes there is goodwill to meet the union's demands.
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Some of these demands included permanent employment of 46,000 Junior Secondary School teachers, promotion of 130,000 teachers, immediate implementation of the second phase of the 2021/2025 amended CBA signed between TSC and KNUT and immediate remittance of the third-party deductions accrued to their respective organizations.
KNUT said that during the discussions, TSC, among other things, promoted 51,232 teachers, remitted the third-party deductions, and was in the process of implementing the amended CBA.
KNUT, however, is not fully convinced with the answers given by TSC, but has agreed to call off the strike even as they follow up on the yet to be met demands.
"Meanwhile we assure our members that the union is committed to resolve the matters herewith failure to which we shall revert to the initial position since the strike notice has only been withdrawn.”