According to a memo dated May 24, 2024, sent by KUPPET Narok Branch Executive Secretary Charles Ngeno to the Officer Commanding Station (OCS) Narok Police Station, the union is calling for peaceful demonstrations across the country.
This follows a series of demonstrations that have been going on across the country where JSS intern teachers are demanding better employment opportunities that include permanent and pensionable terms. The JSS has refused to return to class since schools were reopened. KUPPET is now demanding that the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) withdraw its appeal against the ruling made at the Employment & Labor Relations Court. The court made an earlier ruling indicating that JSS teachers should be employed on permanent and pensionable terms as they are qualified teachers.
Last week, KNUT also showed its support to the JSS teachers by pleading with the Teachers’ Service Commission to withdraw all show cause letters and asked the intern teachers to let them handle the matter on their behalf.
Similar calls for demonstrations are happening in other counties. Zabion Awange, the KUPPET Kisumu branch executive secretary, wrote a memo to the OCS Central Police Station Kisumu requesting security for planned demonstrations today from 9am to 11am. The demonstrations will start from Oile Park and proceed to the TSC county headquarters at Prosperity House.
Meanwhile, Paul Rotich, the Nandi KUPPET Branch Executive Secretary, has requested security from the Kapsabet OCS for union teachers who plan to conduct peaceful demonstrations today. The demonstrations will start from the JSS intern teachers’ office and go to Kapsabet Town, then to the TSC at the County Commissioner’s Office, finally returning to KUPPET offices in the county. The demonstrations will take place between 10am and 5pm today.
From May 29 to 31, 2024, teachers in Samburu County will also hold demonstrations planned by KUPPET Samburu Branch Executive Secretary Lengoyiap William. The demonstrations will take place from 8am to 12pm, starting from Sunrise Plaza and proceeding to the TSC director’s office in Maralal.
“We will gather at the members club and then proceed to the TSC County Director’s Office to present our petition there,” a memo stated. “The demonstration will be peaceful, so we request your office to provide security.”
The union blames the government for neglecting the 46,000 intern teachers during the three-week strike that has affected most counties in the country and halted learning.