By Arnold Ageta
ECDE teachers in Nyamira have vowed to continue with their strike despite a warning from the county government that they could face disciplinary action for participating in what it termed an unlawful industrial action.
The teachers, under the KUNOPPET union, dismissed a circular issued by the County Chief Officer for Education, Zipporah Orina, directing them to return to class, saying the county had failed to address their grievances over remuneration and employment terms.
Speaking to journalists in Kebirigo as the teachers marched through the streets, KUNOPPET Nyamira Branch Secretary General Linet Momanyi said Ms Orina had no authority to call off the strike.
“She did not call for this strike and she has no right to call it off. The strike will go on as planned until they agree to sit with us and meet our demands,” Ms Momanyi said.
She said the teachers did not operate on the basis of circulars and accused the Chief Officer of being misadvised on the dispute.
Ms Momanyi also dismissed claims by the County Executive Committee Member for Education, Emily Ongaga, that KUNOPPET was not legally recognised.
She maintained that the union was legally registered and operational, saying the county’s own circular contradicted its position.
“The CEC for Education may be working on rumours because she may be unaware of the registration of KUNOPPET,” she said.
According to Ms Momanyi, the CEC has repeatedly claimed that KUNOPPET is not legal. However, a circular dated September 1, 2026, acknowledges that talks between the union and the county government are ongoing.
“The Department is aware that the process of signing the recognition agreement between the County Government of Nyamira and KUNOPPET is at an advanced stage but not yet complete,” reads part of the circular.
Ms Momanyi questioned the county’s position, asking who it was negotiating with if KUNOPPET was not legally recognised.
She also raised questions over the date appearing on the circular, noting that its stamp reads September 1, 2023, despite the document being dated September 1, 2026.
Also Read: Nyamira ECDE Teachers Vow to Sustain Strike over Employment Terms
Teachers demand permanent employment
ECDE teacher Wycliffe Mumi said the county government could not describe their strike as unlawful while continuing to engage the teachers in what he termed unlawful dealings.
“The Chief Officer should ask her CEC and the governor to sit down and agree on how they will handle this issue once and for all,” Mr Mumi said.
He joined other teachers in demanding permanent employment with the county government.
Another teacher, Felista Nyaera, said the teachers had been on strike since September 24, leaving children out of school, but the county government had yet to act on their grievances.
She said the teachers would remain on strike until the county implemented the remuneration rates stipulated by the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC).
“We want to be paid our SRC salaries as soon as possible and to be effected from 2022. If not, there is no going back to class,” Ms Nyaera said.
She also urged parents not to take their children to school, saying there were no teachers attending to them and that the striking teachers would not be responsible for any problems that might arise.
“We will not give in to your threats. We will press on until our demands are met and implemented,” she said.
Union welcomes county circular
KUNOPPET Nyamira Chairman Casmil Mose, however, described the county circular as a possible sign of goodwill and urged officials to take the next step towards resolving the dispute.
“We want this issue settled so that we can go back to class to teach our children, and this will only be solved if you agree to sit with us and make a binding agreement,” Mr Mose said.
He, however, questioned the circular’s effectiveness, saying it did not provide binding timelines for implementation of the SRC guidelines.
The circular indicates that implementation of the SRC guidelines would take effect from July 1, 2026.
“The remuneration of ECDE teachers on permanent and pensionable terms will be converted to SRC rates as prescribed in its circular, effective July 1, 2026,” the circular reads.
The county also warned the teachers that “the purported strike is unprotected and unlawful under Section 80 of the Labour Relations Act.”
Ombagi backs striking teachers
The teachers received political backing on Monday when Jubilee Party gubernatorial aspirant Duke Ombagi joined them during their march to the county headquarters.
Mr Ombagi condemned alleged threats against teachers taking part in the strike, saying they should not be intimidated for demanding better working conditions.
“ECDE teachers ensure that our children receive the best educational foundation, and we cannot afford to mess up their lives at this tender age,” he said.
Mr Mose later extended an olive branch to the county government, urging officials to agree to the teachers’ demands and return to the negotiating table to end the strike.
“If you value the education of our young ones, come, let us reason together because we sympathise with those young ones who are eager to learn,” he said.
