The reopening of schools for the second term was marked by tension and uncertainty after junior secondary school teachers took to the streets, raising fresh concerns over jobs, health cover, and delayed payments.
Across several parts of the country, intern teachers under the Junior Secondary School (JSS) programme staged protests, demanding to be absorbed into permanent and pensionable terms. The group, estimated at over 44,000, says the government has delayed confirming their employment despite earlier promises.
Some of the teachers pointed to a February court ruling, which questioned the legality of keeping them on internship. According to them, the decision made it clear that the arrangement should be replaced with proper employment contracts. They now want immediate action, arguing that continued delays are unfair and financially draining.
Others questioned government spending, saying education should be treated as a priority. They insisted that issuing appointment letters should not take this long, especially when schools are already relying heavily on their services.
At the same time, frustrations are growing over the Social Health Authority (SHA) cover. Teachers say changes that were promised after talks between unions and the Ministry of Health are yet to be reflected. Many are still being asked to pay extra charges when seeking treatment, something they say defeats the purpose of the cover.
Officials from the Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) confirmed that complaints are coming from different regions. Teachers have reported limited access to approved hospitals, unexpected co-payments, and confusion over benefit limits.
In Kisii, union representatives said only a handful of health facilities are available to serve teachers, forcing many to travel long distances. In Kajiado, some areas reportedly have no accredited facilities at all, making it difficult for teachers and their families to access care.
There are also concerns about unequal benefits. Some teachers claim that younger staff are receiving lower health cover limits, especially on maternity services, compared to their senior colleagues.
In Trans Nzoia, union leaders warned that demonstrations could escalate within a week if the issues are not addressed.
Also teachers who took part in marking last year’s national exams say they have not received their payments months later. They are now calling on the Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) and the government to release the funds without further delay.
With tensions rising on multiple fronts, teachers say failure to act quickly could disrupt learning across the country.
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By Robai Ludenyi