KUPPET Officials Dismiss SG Misori’s Declaration, Insist The Strike Still On
Just a day after the Kenya Union of Post-Primary Teachers (KUPPET) ended its two-week national strike, cracks have emerged within the union over what some officials describe as a betrayal by their top leadership.
Teachers from counties in the Central, Western, Rift Valley, and Nyanza regions told the media at a press conference in Kisumu on Tuesday that KUPPET Secretary General Akello Misori failed to follow the proper procedures when calling off the strike.
Nancy Macharia MUST leave office now. This purpoted agreement between KUPPET and @TSC_KE does not address even an inch of JSS confirmation. KUPPET I didn't see this coming. You blinked first. pic.twitter.com/EYxdH5QQPr
— Teacher Activist (@Teacher_GenZ) September 2, 2024
They therefore demanded Misori’s immediate resignation for making the decision, which the officials argued was not in the best interests of their members.
The teachers insisted that they had not called off the strike and that the industrial action would continue despite Misori’s announcement.
“We have not called off the strike, the strike is still on, give us the minutes that show us that we called off the strike,’’ paused Joseph Abicha, the KUPPET Kisii Branch Secretary General.
‘’We cannot be told that after calling off the strike we are going to meet and ratify, which one comes first?’’ Abicha questioned.
Abicha added that the organ’s National Governing Council was supposed to meet and decide whether to suspend the strike.
The teachers also questioned Misori’s failure to notify the National Governing Council of the agreement with the government before any announcements were made.
Teachers’ strike: KUPPET divided
— Citizen TV Kenya (@citizentvkenya) September 3, 2024
Section of teachers reject calls to return to class
Teachers call for the resignation of national officials
Abincha: We have not called off the strike#CitizenBriefs@lillian_muli pic.twitter.com/UvVnUNUIpN
‘’Teachers are not like electrical switches where you can have them on the road then you wake up one day to tell them to stop doing whatever they are doing,’’ Sabala Inyeni, one of the officials from Vihiga charged.
The teachers apologized to the parents for the situation but stated that they will continue with their industrial action.
‘’To the parents, I know it has been a hard time for you, but we cannot promise what’s next as we are still pressing on until all our demands are met,’’ Abicha urged.
Misori announced on Monday that the strike would be suspended to allow the government to address issues promised to KUPPET officials.
KUPPET Officials Dismiss SG Misori’s Declaration, Insist The Strike Still On
