Kuppet Threatens Nationwide Strike Over Delayed Capitation Funds and Unsettled Salary Deal

Nairobi, Kenya – July 14, 2025

The Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (Kuppet) has issued a stern ultimatum to the government, threatening a nationwide strike if the Ministry of Education fails to promptly disburse delayed capitation funds and finalize a long-pending salary agreement.

According to Kuppet Secretary-General Akelo Misori, only 25 percent of the expected KSh 16 billion in capitation funds has reached schools this term—an alarming shortfall that has left many secondary institutions unable to meet basic operational expenses, including payment for utilities, suppliers, and non-teaching staff.

“The government’s continued delay in releasing capitation funds is crippling public education and endangering the academic calendar,” Misori said during a press briefing. “We will not stand by as students bear the brunt of bureaucratic inefficiencies.”

Capitation funds, allocated per learner, are vital to the functioning of public secondary schools. Their delay has forced some institutions to send students home, suspend non-core activities, or operate under strained conditions.

Kuppet is also pushing for the expedited conclusion of a new salary package for its members, which was promised as part of a 2021 collective bargaining agreement (CBA) review. The union contends that the prolonged stagnation of teachers’ salaries, especially in the face of rising inflation and a high cost of living, is untenable.

Misori emphasized that while a strike remains the last resort, the union is prepared to mobilize teachers across the country if the government does not take immediate corrective action. “We are issuing this warning in good faith. But if dialogue fails, we will have no option but to withdraw services to defend the dignity of our profession and the rights of learners,” he said.

As of press time, the Ministry of Education had not officially responded to the union’s demands. However, in earlier statements, the ministry attributed the delays to ongoing budgetary reallocations following amendments to the Finance Act.

The threat of industrial action comes at a critical time for the education sector, with schools already grappling with overcrowded classrooms, inadequate infrastructure, and the phased rollout of the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC) at the senior secondary level.

If the standoff escalates, it could further destabilize an already fragile academic year and deepen public frustration with the government’s handling of education financing.