Junior school teachers threaten strike from April 27 over pay, medical cover

JS teachers from Murang'a county protesting against the internship program in Maragua town on November 8, 2025. /FILE

Junior school teachers have threatened to paralyse learning at the start of second term on April 27, escalating pressure on the government over employment terms, medical cover and delayed job confirmations.

Led by officials of the Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (Kuppet), the educators say they will down tools unless they are employed on permanent and pensionable terms and enrolled in a more comprehensive health insurance scheme.

The teachers argue that the Social Health Authority (SHA) cover is inadequate, forcing them to dig into their own pockets for treatment.

"These teachers are tired of using miti shamba (herbal medicine). They are tired of consulting witch doctors because whenever we visit hospitals, we are asked for more money. We are told the network is not working," said James Njembio.

The strike threat comes a day after Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale dismissed claims that teachers had been allocated only Sh1,200 daily under the new medical cover, remarks he attributed to former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua.

Duale defended the teachers’ scheme, saying the Mwalimu National Hospital Insurance Fund scheme remains among the most comprehensive in the public sector.

"Teachers now enjoy inpatient cover ranging from Sh1 million to Sh3 million, outpatient cover of up to Sh450,000 and access to over 6,000 health facilities nationwide; services easily accessible through the Afyangu app. What has changed is not the benefit, but the discipline in how public funds are used," he said.

Despite the assurances, teachers report being turned away from hospitals, with some facilities demanding high out-of-pocket payments.

The industrial action threat is further fuelled by a long-running dispute over employment terms, including the non-confirmation of 44,000 intern teachers and a perceived slowdown in recruitment by the Teachers Service Commission (TSC).

On February 27, the Court of Appeal ruled that the internship programme under which TSC hired the teachers was discriminatory, unconstitutional and illegal.

The court found that deploying fully qualified and licensed teachers as interns amounted to exploitation and unfair labour practices, and directed that such roles be converted to permanent and pensionable positions.

TSC had engaged the teachers on temporary contracts with a Sh20,000 monthly stipend to address staffing gaps arising from the transition of Grade 6 learners to junior school.

"We note that most watchmen and cleaners with no formal education earn better than these teachers who are graduates, teachers who toiled to get the best grades in the education ladder," said Yvonne Gitonga.

She added that the interns are overworked despite the low pay, worsening their grievances.

Beyond pay and healthcare concerns, the teachers are also pushing for administrative autonomy from primary schools, where junior schools are currently domiciled.

They argue that the arrangement undermines their professional standing and limits operational independence.

If the strike goes ahead, it is likely to disrupt the reopening of schools for the second term, with learners reporting back from the April holidays into a potentially paralysed system.