Learning in junior secondary schools (JSS) across the country was disrupted as teachers launched a nationwide strike, demanding permanent and pensionable employment terms. The strike, which left students stranded on the first day of the second term, saw significant participation in counties including Narok, Nyeri, Meru, Nyamira, and Machakos.
Teachers took to the streets to press for their demands, with Gikundi Karuti from Meru asserting, "We must be compensated, we must be confirmed today, tomorrow, and in days to come." Francis Wanjohi of the Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) in Nyeri added, "These are qualified teachers with TSC numbers and teaching licenses; we don't see why they shouldn't be hired permanently."
The striking teachers, who have been serving as interns for two years, voiced their frustration at the lack of job security and fair compensation.
While the protests were ongoing, the Employment and Labour Relations Court held a virtual session regarding the matter. In a case filed by the Forum for Good Governance and Human Rights, Principal Judge Byram Ongaya reversed a previous ruling that had declared the intern teacher posts illegal, ordering the teachers to return to class.
Justice Ongaya granted stay orders on the April 17 judgment, which had deemed the employment terms of the teacher interns illegal, allowing for negotiations between the parties involved. The court ruled that the status quo be maintained until August 1, 2024, to facilitate a potential compromise or reorganization of employment terms.
The petitioners had argued that the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) lacked the financial resources to convert the 46,000 intern positions to permanent and pensionable terms, as no funds were appropriated by the National Assembly for this purpose in the current financial year.
"The commission has no financial resources to facilitate compliance with the judgment, specifically, to convert the 46,000 interns to permanent and pensionable terms of service," stated the court papers.