Kenya Teachers Union Defends Newly Signed Collective Bargaining Agreement Amid Criticism

The Kenya National Union of Teachers (Knut) Secretary-General Collins Oyuu has defended the recently signed 2025-2029 Collective Bargaining Agreement, which has drawn criticism from some teachers. Despite a section of teachers dismissing the salary increment as negligible, Mr Oyuu described the deal with the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) as a win, considering the prevailing economic situation. He noted that the agreement provides for a 12-29.5 percent salary increment, which he termed a victory, and emphasized that the increment will be progressive throughout the four years of the CBA cycle.

Key Takeaways:

• The 2025-2029 Collective Bargaining Agreement has been signed by the Kenya National Union of Teachers (Knut) and the Teachers Service Commission (TSC), with a 12-29.5 percent salary increment for teachers.
• Knut Secretary-General Collins Oyuu has defended the agreement, describing it as a win considering the prevailing economic situation.
• The agreement provides for Career-Based Growth, job evaluation, and a review of the Code of Regulations for Teachers, which Knut boss believes is punitive in terms of promotions.
• The union will continue to work with the government to secure benefits for its members, including maintaining the medical cover under Minet, citing the Social Health Authority (SHA) as unstable and unable to offer quality services.
• Some teachers have disagreed with the agreement, claiming the salary increment is too little to cope with the current economic constraints, with one teacher stating that they received less than Sh500 as a salary increment.
• The agreement has two components: monetary value and career progression guidelines, with Knut emerging victorious compared to previous negotiations.

Statistics:

• 12-29.5 percent salary increment for teachers as agreed upon in the 2025-2029 Collective Bargaining Agreement.
• Sh500-or-less salary increment received by some teachers, as reportedly mentioned by an unnamed teacher.
• 4-year CBA cycle, during which the salary increment will be progressive.

Sources:

• "Kenya teachers union defends new pay deal amid criticism" [The Standard (2023-02-19)]