Striking secondary school teachers in Thika, Kiambu County flushed out their colleagues from Chania Girls High School who had reported back for duty on Wednesday, August 28, 2024.
Led by Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) officials, the tutors marched to the school gate where they camped singing solidarity songs until some of their compatriots walked out to join them.
However, the protesters could not gain entry into the school compound after they found the gate locked and guarded by policemen.
After a brief exchange with the security officers, the teachers withdrew and continued to march in the town’s streets.
The Kiambu KUPPET County Chairperson Rose Kiiru who led the group said the union decided to defy the côurt order to resume work after their employer the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) similarly failed to honour a High Côurt order stopping the deduction of the government’s housing levy from their pay.
“The côurt order also came very late when our union leadership had called the strike after failing to reach an agreement with the government representatives. Besides we have also learned from TSC that court orders can be defied,” Kiiru said.
She added that the industrial action has crippled learning in secondary schools and urged parents who had allowed their children to report for the third term to go for them.
“The safety of students in schools cannot be assured when teachers are not there. The only other place they are safe is at their home, but again why are some parents in a hurry to get rid of their children, are they a burden?” Kiiru remarked.
The official said the strike will continue until the teachers’ demands are met in full by the government.