The Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (Kuppet) wants the Kenya National Examinations Council (Knec) to sign an agreement with teachers before this year’s national examinations begin.
Kuppet national chairman Omboko Milemba said the agreement should clarify payment rates and timelines for teachers involved in supervision, marking and other examination duties.
Milemba urged teachers to wait for the union’s engagement with Knec before downloading and filling out examination forms.
“I therefore urge teachers not to rush to download and fill Knec forms before the necessary engagement with the union. Knec must come to the table, engage us openly and address these issues,” he said.
Milemba said the proposed agreement should set out the rates, mode and timelines of payment, including arrangements for upfront payment for some examination duties.
“It will not be business as usual. We want an MoU that spells out rates, mode and timelines of payment before exams begin,” he said.
He spoke when he hosted Kuppet delegates from Vihiga, Kakamega, Bungoma, Busia, Kisumu and Nairobi counties at his home in Esirulo, Emuhaya.
Milemba also said Kuppet would continue pushing for the confirmation of 24,000 intern teachers and the employment of an additional 20,000 teachers.
On the Digital Health Authority system, Milemba said teachers had raised concerns about its effectiveness in facilitating access to medical services. He gave the Ministry of Health and the Social Health Authority (SHA) 14 days to respond to the concerns.
On teachers’ promotions, Milemba said Kuppet had been allocated 34,000 promotion slots, against the 50,000 he said the union had agreed with the Teachers Service Commission (TSC). He called on the TSC to advertise the remaining 16,000 slots.
Milemba also urged the Salaries and Remuneration Commission to harmonise teachers’ salaries with those of civil servants in similar job groups.
Milemba said Kuppet’s regional council elections would be held on August 21 and urged teachers to maintain unity ahead of the polls.
He congratulated Western region delegates on their elections and thanked them for supporting his bid to retain the national chairman position.
He also indicated that he was considering leaving the union’s leadership.
“May the Lord help you to grow so that you can leave where you have been for too long. I also think I have been here for too long. I must make a deliberate move to leave the stage,” he said.
He urged teachers to consult, reach consensus and maintain unity ahead of the regional council elections, saying this would strengthen the union’s negotiations on teachers’ interests.
