Striking KUPPET Teachers Storm Schools in Uasin Gishu, Disrupting Classes and Forcing Teachers to Flee; Moi Girls Also Affected
This incident mirrored a similar occurrence last week at Uasin Gishu High School in Eldoret, where KUPPET officials led a group of striking teachers to the school, causing those who were teaching to flee.
KUPPET Teachers Stage Demonstrations on Monday Amid Ongoing Strike
There was a dramatic scene at another public secondary school in Uasin Gishu County Monday when members of the Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) stormed the institution, forcibly ejecting teachers they found in classrooms.
The confrontation at St. Catherine High School was led by the branch Executive Secretary, Elijah Maiyo. The union officials arrived at the school around 11 a.m., demanding to know why some of their colleagues, who are union members, were still teaching despite the ongoing nationwide strike. “We were forced to storm the school and disrupt learning activities before chasing away the traitors for going against a directive from our national union leaders,” Maiyo stated, emphasizing the seriousness of the situation.
This incident mirrored a similar occurrence last week at Uasin Gishu High School in Eldoret, where KUPPET officials storm school led a group of striking teachers to the school, causing those who were teaching to flee. Some teaching staff reportedly hid in the staff quarters to avoid confrontation.
At St. Catherine High School, the KUPPET officials arrived in a convoy of three vehicles, having been informed that some teachers were still conducting classes despite the union’s directive for all members to down their tools. Maiyo confirmed the incident, saying, “We ambushed the tutors in classrooms and demanded they leave immediately or face serious consequences for betraying the strike.”
Maiyo declared the strike in the region a success, noting that a significant number of teachers from various schools, including Moi Girls High School Eldoret, have refrained from teaching. “Even teachers from a national school like Moi Girls High have kept off classrooms to join us in demonstrating along the streets. Let me ask the parents to withdraw their children from school because we do not know when the strike will end,” he added.
A spot check at several top national and sub-county schools revealed that learning had largely been disrupted, with many teachers choosing to stay away from classrooms to join their colleagues in the strike, which is now entering its second week.
Some teachers expressed fear over returning to their schools due to threats and intimidation from union officials. “The KUPPET officials have planted spies all over the schools, and there is no way we can teach without being detected. Then they come for us in full view of the learners,” said one teacher from Sosiani Secondary School, who requested anonymity for fear of victimization.
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