Kuppet demands better terms for exam teachers

Kuppet SG Akello Misori during a press briefing on salary disparities between teachers and civil servants following the 2026/2027 salary reviews. [Courtesy]

The Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (Kuppet) has threatened to mobilise its members to boycott the supervision and marking of national examinations unless the Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) engages the union in talks and reviews teachers’ payments for the exercise.

The union says the current payment of Sh600 is inadequate and peanut compensation for the responsibilities assigned to teachers during national examinations, warning that industrial action could be unavoidable if its demands are ignored.

Speaking in Kakamega, Kuppet Secretary General Akello Misori said teachers undertake critical duties in managing examination centres and handling candidates’ scripts, yet their concerns remain unaddressed by KNEC. He called for structured engagement between the examination council and the union before teachers participate in future examination exercises.

“You are a professional being given Sh600 to manage a centre where there are 280 or 700 candidates. You are determining the life of a person for life, and you don't want to speak about your rights. I think next time we must shape up and become serious,” Misori said.

Misori noted that the union lacked a direct engagement framework with KNEC, despite teachers facing disciplinary action when examination irregularities occur at centres where they are deployed.

He said the union would continue pressing for better remuneration and formal consultations, arguing that teachers should not be held accountable for examination administration without having an effective platform to raise concerns about their working conditions.

“We are again giving the same warning to them that they must engage the union. They must engage the union and improve the payments that go to teachers for marking scripts and managing examination centres,” Misori said.

He also expressed concern that some Kuppet members had already participated in examination-related activities despite the union’s position against taking part without prior engagement. He cited teachers who had supervised examinations and participated in assessments involving learners in Grade Eight and Grade 10.

 Kuppet National Chairman Omboko Milemba backed the proposed boycott, urging members to demonstrate solidarity by refusing to supervise examinations if the union’s demands are not addressed.

Milemba said the participation of teachers in the exercise despite the union’s call for action weakened its bargaining position, adding that collective pressure from members was necessary to secure better terms.

“Once people are going to supervise, then it means we have flopped. You may say we should have told you not to go, but what about when you told us to push JSS? Power must be managed. Even power from above must be managed by power from below,” Milemba said.

He challenged teachers to use their collective influence to push for negotiations with KNEC, saying the union intended to bring the examination council, Kuppet and the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) together to discuss the basis of the payments.

Milemba said the union was pursuing several avenues to address the remuneration dispute, including engagement with the SRC and legal channels, noting that previous court proceedings had raised questions about the commission’s role in determining payments.

Beyond the examination dispute, Kuppet leaders called on teachers to participate in public consultations on proposed legislation affecting the education sector, warning that laws passed without adequate consideration of teachers’ views could have far-reaching implications for their welfare and the future of education.

The union singled out proposed legislation on university funding and the Teachers Service Commission (TSC), urging members to scrutinise the bills and submit their views to Parliament.

 Kuppet wants teachers to assess how the proposed changes could affect the financing of higher education, the management of the teaching profession and the protection of teachers’ interests.

Milemba said the union had been invited to appear before Parliament’s Committee on Delegated Legislation on Thursday to present its views on legislation before lawmakers, including the proposed DAC Bill.

He urged branch secretaries to circulate copies of the bills to members and organise discussions to gather their recommendations before the parliamentary session.

“We must discuss them so that when we go there on Thursday, it will be fireworks, fireworks and fireworks, so that we don't leave any stone unturned,” Milemba said.

He added that the union intended to use the parliamentary process to ensure teachers’ concerns were heard, noting that only selected groups would have an opportunity to make formal presentations before the relevant committees.

The Kuppet chairman said members needed to understand the proposed laws and their possible implications to enable the union to present informed and well-coordinated submissions to Parliament.

The union maintained that its efforts on the bills were part of a broader push to protect teachers’ professional interests through negotiations, legal avenues and legislative engagement.

 Kuppet’s proposed examination boycott now places pressure on KNEC to open formal talks over teachers’ compensation and working conditions.

The union says it will continue mobilising members until its concerns are addressed, warning that teachers’ participation in national examinations should not be taken for granted while their demands remain unresolved.

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