KUPPET threatens strike if TSC fails to address insecurity in volatile regions

The Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) through its Secretary-General Akelo Misori, has threatened to down their tools should the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) not meet their demands by Wednesday.

Misori said the union’s teachers will not report to work in areas with security concerns.

He who was speaking in Kisumu on Sunday appealed to the government to resolve the security issue, especially in the North Rift region where the lives of children have been at stake as a result of the clashes.

Misori said they issued the threat because of the security concerns they have especially when the children are about to sit for their exams in the volatile region.

"The threat we issued in relation to the exams is due to the fact that quite a number of regions especially the Northern frontier and some parts of the Rift Valley are violent prone," Misori said.

Misori also expressed the union’s fears that they cannot expose their member teachers over the period of the exams if adequate security is not provided and the exams might not be done.

He emphasised that the union is not working against the government rather protecting its members.

"We are not against the government's administration on national exams because those who are going to supervise exams are teachers," he said. 

The KUPPET boss said they did not threaten the government but cautioned teachers to keep off the conflict zones if the matter of security is not properly addressed.

"The threat that we posed was basically not a threat but a question that in the absence of security in these areas that I have mentioned the teachers should keep off because the security is wanting," Misori said.

The Education CS George Magoha urged the teachers to reconsider their decision and call off the intended strike.

This, he said was to ensure the children who are supposed to sit for the exams are not affected.