The start of the second school term on Monday, April 27, has been marred by widespread teacher protests across multiple counties, threatening to paralyze learning as educators demand action on health insurance, job security, and working conditions.
The Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) has warned that the school calendar could face severe disruption if the government fails to address their grievances promptly.
Machakos and Homa Bay: Fight for Permanent Employment
In Machakos, Junior Secondary School (JSS) teachers have downed their tools, demanding permanent and pensionable employment for 44,000 intern teachers nationwide.
“We are asking the government to allocate funds to the TSC to confirm the 44,000 intern teachers. The government has been talking about confirmation for a long time, but this can only become reality after funds are allocated by Parliament,” said Yvonne Musyoka, KUPPET Secretary in Machakos.
Teachers in Homa Bay echoed similar demands, citing a March 2026 Court of Appeal ruling that declared internship-based employment illegal.
“The Court of Appeal affirmed the decision of the Labour Relations Court, confirming that employment on internship basis is illegal. We do not understand why our colleagues have not been confirmed,” said Thomas Odhiambo, KUPPET Secretary-General in Homa Bay.
JSS teachers in Homa Bay are also calling for greater autonomy in their institutions’ structure, operations, and leadership appointments.
Healthcare Crisis Under SHA
A major source of frustration across counties is the Social Health Insurance (SHA) scheme, which teachers say has failed to provide adequate coverage.
In Homa Bay, striking teachers noted that only one hospital per subcounty is authorized to offer SHA services, severely limiting access to healthcare.
Kajiado teachers are threatening strikes over dissatisfaction with SHA, stating they preferred coverage under their previous provider, Minet.
In Vihiga, teachers have announced a 14-day strike demanding the removal of SHA’s capping model, which limits medical cover. They also expressed frustration over lack of coverage for fertility care and unavailability of covered medications.
These complaints persist despite an agreement between SHA, the Teachers Service Commission (TSC), KUPPET, and the Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) that eliminated co-payments for visits to accredited health facilities.
Samburu: Hardship Allowance Dispute
Teachers in Samburu are threatening protests within two weeks over the removal of hardship allowances. The region, classified as an Arid and Semi-Arid Land (ASAL) area, has had its hardship status downgraded to moderate—a move teachers strongly oppose.
“Whoever conducted that particular research has no information about Samburu. Teachers are undergoing hardship, especially when it comes to security. We all know we have even lost teachers to banditry,” one teacher said.
Mounting Pressure on Government
The TSC and the government face intensifying pressure to resolve these issues as the academic calendar hangs in the balance. With protests already underway in multiple counties and strike threats looming in others, education officials must act quickly to prevent widespread disruption to learning.
KUPPET has made it clear that without immediate government intervention, the protests could escalate and significantly impact the second term across the country.
