Uasin Gishu Teachers Storm School, Disrupt Classes in Ongoing National Protests Over Unmet Demands
Maiyo further stated that until their Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) is honored and they receive their dues, they will not return to work for the entire month.
By Jessica Nyaboke
Teachers in Uasin Gishu stormed Uasin Gishu High School and forcibly removed their colleagues who were teaching during nationwide demonstrations that began on Monday. The protesting teachers had received information that some teachers were still conducting lessons despite being warned to refrain from doing so.
Tension escalated when the protesting teachers entered the school’s dining hall and ate food meant for their colleagues, leading to chaos. Students also left their classes to join the protests, accusing the teaching teachers of being traitors. Fearing for their safety, the targeted teachers fled the scene.
Speaking in Eldoret, the protesting teachers expressed their frustration, stating they could not protest in the streets while others “pretend to be good” by remaining in class. They emphasized the harsh economic conditions, saying, “Life is very hard, and we cannot work and go to bed hungry.”
Elijah Maiyo, the Executive Secretary of the teachers’ union, described how the teachers marched through the streets of Eldoret, singing solidarity songs that caused significant traffic disruptions. “We demonstrated the whole day while children remained in class,” Maiyo said.
Maiyo further stated that until their Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) is honored and they receive their dues, they will not return to work for the entire month. “We are prepared to remove children from classes and send them home if our demands are not met,” he warned. The teachers also vowed not to be intimidated or threatened into returning to work under current conditions.
Their demands include better career progression, comprehensive medical insurance, and the fulfillment of the CBA agreement, which they claim has not been honored to date.
Bro. Sosthen Bellat, Chairman of the Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) Uasin Gishu branch, expressed disappointment, stating, “We have left the children to be taught by the world—a sad state of affairs.”
Lucy Rono, a teacher, highlighted the disparity in maternity leave, saying, “As mothers, we are given maternity leave for three months, and others get four months. Why the disparity, yet we are all teachers?”
The protests are expected to continue until the teachers’ demands are addressed.
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