Officials from the Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) in Homa Bay are reaching out to local politicians for financial support to help sustain union operations. The union has also set up a WhatsApp group and is leveraging other social media platforms to encourage teachers to contribute funds.
KUPPET is currently facing financial challenges following a change by the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) that now allows teachers to choose when to pay union dues. Previously, TSC directly deducted union fees from teachers' salaries and sent them to the unions. Now, the dues are included in teachers' pay, and some teachers are opting not to send their contributions to KUPPET.
On Saturday, KUPPET officials, including National Chairman Omboko Milemba and Secretary General Okello Misori, met with President William Ruto at State House Nairobi. However, few details of the meeting have been made public.
Homa Bay KUPPET Executive Secretary Stephen Yogo stated that the union has 3,508 members in the county, each contributing 1.8% of their basic salary. "Thirty-five percent of this goes to the national office, while the remainder supports branch activities," he explained.
Speaking in Homa Bay town on Saturday, Yogo noted that financial constraints have hindered the union’s projects, including constructing a new office in Rangwena, near Homa Bay town, costing Ksh 4.8 million. "KUPPET Homa Bay continues to rent an office at Ksh 20,000 per month. We haven't completed the new office project due to funding shortages," Yogo said.
The new office was expected to be ready for use in September after floor tiles were installed, but construction is still incomplete, and the contractor remains unpaid. Some staff members, including a driver, office secretary, and two security guards, have also not received their salaries due to the financial shortfall.
