Knut sets stage for pay talks, tells SRC to stay in its lane

Hesbon Otieno deputy secretary general KNUT speaking during TSC stakeholders forum on teacher preparedness for school reopening. [Wilberforce Okwiri, Standard]

Kenya National Union of Teachers (Knut) Deputy Secretary-General, Hesbon Otieno, has reaffirmed the union's demand for a 60 per cent increase in teachers' basic salaries and a 30 per cent rise in all allowances.

Speaking during Knut's Bureti Branch Annual General Meeting in Litein, Kericho County on Saturday, Otieno criticised the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) for opposing the union's demands, stating that the SRC had overstepped its purely advisory mandate.

He urged the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) acting Chief Executive Officer, Eveleen Mitei, to prioritise the timely negotiation and signing of the 2025-2029 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA). The current CBA is due to expire on June 30, 2025.

"The most meaningful gesture the new TSC CEO can make is to ensure the prompt signing of a new CBA," he said.

"We have conducted thorough research and considered projected economic conditions. These proposed increments are fair and essential for teachers to continue delivering quality education," he continued.

He further called for adequate funds allocation in the forthcoming budget to accommodate proposed pay rises and release the pending 30 per cent capitation funds to schools.

Kericho Governor Erick Mutai, chair of the Education Committee at the Council of Governors, called for better resourcing of junior secondary schools, particularly laboratory equipment to support the competency-based education. He also announced the ongoing recruitment of more Early Childhood Development Education (ECDE) teachers to enhance foundational learning.

Law Society of Kenya member Bernard Ngetich called for transparency in teacher recruitment, urging the TSC to eliminate favouritism and ensure all qualified teachers are employed.