Knut, Kuppet: Tale of TSC’s Former Favorite Wearing Other Shoe
As the Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) intensified their struggle against the Teachers Service Commission (TSC), the third school term in Kenya kicked off with a wave of demonstrations. Teachers affiliated with KUPPET were at the forefront, demanding action from their employer, while their counterparts in the Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) quietly returned to work, marking a striking reversal of roles between the two unions.
Historically, KNUT has been known for its militant stance and fiery leadership, often engaging in confrontations with the government to secure better conditions for its members. On the other hand, KUPPET, established in 1998 under the encouragement of then-President Daniel arap Moi as a counterweight to KNUT, has traditionally been seen as the more conciliatory and less confrontational of the two unions.
However, the current situation tells a different story. As KNUT Secretary-General Collins Oyuu called off a planned strike just hours before it was set to begin, KUPPET found itself in direct conflict with the TSC. Oyuu’s decision to cancel the strike notice was seen as a calculated move, reflecting a shift in KNUT’s approach. “We have formed a technical team with TSC, and over 20,000 teachers are slated for promotion. Experienced individuals have no need for strikes. Our members are safe, and I acted in their best interest, not in a popularity contest,” Oyuu explained, defending the union’s decision to back down.
In contrast, KUPPET has taken up the mantle of confrontation, a role traditionally associated with KNUT. The tension between KUPPET and the TSC escalated when the commission refused to meet with KUPPET’s leadership unless the union called off its strike. KUPPET Secretary-General Akello Misori accused TSC of employing “dirty tricks” to prolong the standoff, arguing that the commission was trying to portray KUPPET as desperate and eager to end the strike. Misori held a late-night press conference where he stated, “The TSC’s self-serving objective is to make KUPPET pay for its actions while consoling KNUT, who backed out under pressure. We refuse to bargain under duress.”
Adding to the tension, TSC withheld union dues from KUPPET members’ August paychecks—a tactic reminiscent of the commission’s strategy in 2019 during a major dispute with KNUT. At that time, KNUT, under the leadership of Wilson Sossion, nearly collapsed after TSC implemented an exit command on the teachers’ portal (T-Pay), preventing KNUT members from accessing a pay raise stipulated in the collective bargaining agreement (CBA). Sossion, reflecting on the situation, accused the TSC of using “asphyxiation” tactics to undermine unions and warned against the divide-and-rule strategy being employed.
Sossion’s remarks also highlighted a historical pattern of government tactics against unions, pointing out how, in 1969, KNUT Secretary-General Stephen Kioni was jailed on trumped-up charges to weaken the union. Sossion noted that similar strategies had been used to remove him from office, underscoring the need for unions to adopt more robust and transparent practices to protect their members.
KUPPET’s ongoing battle with the TSC marks a significant shift in Kenya’s labor relations landscape. The once moderate union now finds itself in a position of defiance, challenging the authority of the TSC in ways that KNUT, the traditionally combative union, has recently avoided. This role reversal highlights the dynamic and often unpredictable nature of union-government relations in Kenya, where alliances can shift, and the balance of power can quickly change.
As KUPPET navigates these turbulent waters, the union’s leadership remains steadfast, vowing not to be intimidated and to continue advocating for the rights of their members, even as the TSC employs increasingly aggressive tactics to quell dissent. The tables have indeed turned, and KUPPET, once the government’s favored child, now finds itself on the opposite side of the battle lines, fighting for the very principles that KNUT once championed.
