The Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) was founded as both a trade union and professional organization, to unite all teachers of Kenya and look after their welfare and professional interests. In the process the KNUT also promotes educational development generally, and the teaching profession, in particular. The Kenya National Union of Teachers came into existence before independence with the then nationalists Daniel Arap Moi and Jeremiah Nyagah being among the former teachers crediting for its creation. 1930- 1950 During this period, there was a first attempt to form a teacher Trade Union. In 1934, Mr. James Gichuru and Eliud Mathu formed the Kenya African Teachers Union (KATU). However, the Union was not registered under the pressure of the Colonial Government and the union fizzled away. In the political realm, teachers were left out in the agitation for freedom, the only political voices heard was the Secretary General KFL. Teachers thus formed Provincial Teachers Organizations to expose their discomforts. The sectional regionally based associations and Unions for African teachers were formed though they were virtually powerless. These sectional associations included; · Nyanza – Nyanza African Teachers Union (NATU), · Central – Kenya African Teachers Union called Kikuyu Teachers Union (KTU/KATU)/Kiambu African Teachers Association (KATA)- magazine · Rift Valley – Rift Valley African Teachers (RATU), · Coast – Coast African Teachers Union (CATU), · Catholic African Teachers Association (CATA) engineered by catholic priests from Nyanza. TRAINING HANDBOOK FOR KNUT LEADERSHIP – 2024 20 6 It is worth noting that during this time teacher who graduated from Makerere and Kagumo colleges and employed under different managements leading to diversity in their terms and working conditions, they established communication networks for sharing experiences on conditions in their schools, mistreatment thus there was need to organize themselves in teachers organizations however these organizations lacked a national outlook and a means of coming together nationally. This prompted the Late Bishop Beecher to make a recommendation that Teachers of Kenya should be assisted to form one national Union. 1950-1956 By early 50s resentment against African teachers had grown tremendously. in 1955 eight African leaders registered in the LEGCO spoke against the mistreatment of the African teachers by their European counterparts. By 1955 The Late President Moi a teacher by then entered politics and was elected as member of Legislative Council for RIFT Valley, now called National Assembly and moved a freelance motion in LEGCO house that Government should help teachers in the country to form a National Teachers Organization to serve as a voice for all teachers. 1957-1969 It took a long wait of almost quarter a century before teachers succeeded in securing authority to form a teachers Union. By mid1957. The motion by the late President Daniel Arap Torotich Moi was accepted and then then Minister of Education Mr. Walter. F. Coutts invited all teacher to a meeting to launch a teachers Union. Several reasons made it necessary to form a teachers union, the five most compelling ones were: – · The differences in salaries paid by various employers to African teachers of the same grade; · The disparities in salaries paid to African vis-à-vis European teachers teaching at the same level; · The harassment of teachers by supervisors and inspectors of schools, without reference to any ground rules; · The blatant racial discrimination in housing and allocation of duties, especially in boarding schools; · The denial of certain basis rights (pension, leave, medical allowances, e.t.c) to teachers as workers. On 4th December, 1957, the first National Conference of teacher leaders was convened at Pumwani DEB School (Nairobi), where Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) was born. Since time immemorial the teaching profession has offered the best opportunity for Africans to advance their careers. African holders of Makerere diplomas or degree were allowed to be Head masters in some secondary schools in the 1950s. Hence it was not surprising that senior African teachers transferred their managerial potential in running the newly founded KNUT. KNUT was therefore a brainchild, planned and founded by teachers from secondary schools and teacher training colleges as seen by the initial office bearers which included; Mr. Ignatius Mkok- a teacher of St. Joseph high school Mumias as Interim President and Mr. Stephen Kioni – Kilimambogo Teachers College as Interim Secretary General. Following the founding of KNUT, the interim Central Executive Committee took office and this followed in the consecutive leadership administrations combining leaders from all levels of basic education. During the second Delegates Conference on 19th December, 1958, the Central Executive Committee (CEC) convened its second Delegates Conference at Pumwani DEB School where the KNUT delegates ratified and adopted the first Constitution and the first election was held. TRAINING HANDBOOK FOR KNUT LEADERSHIP – 2024 21 7 The Elected leadership were; 1. President/ National Chairman- Mr. Samuel G. Ayany 2. Secretary General- Mr. Stephen Kioni On May 14, 1959, KNUT was officially registered under the Trade Union Act (Cap 233), as a Trade Union and Professional Organization to perform professional roles. The triumphs of KNUT since then, were in improving teachers’ welfare. This marked the beginning of a long struggle for teachers’ rights that was later marked by a series of strikes, work boycotts and running battles with the government. By 1960, The Secretary General the Late Mr. Kioni had resigned from teaching at Kilimambogo TTC to devote his time and energy to KNUT. He established the first KNUT office in a garage in Ruiru town and by 1963 KNUT offices were moved to Mercury House in Nairobi. The first Central Executive Committee later became the National Executive Council (NEC) issued its first policy demands which included; 1. A single employer for all teachers 2. Unified terms and conditions of service for all teachers 3. Free pension for all teachers 4. Provision for negotiation machinery 5. Pay rise for teachers in all grades 6. Responsibility allowance for all posts of responsibility 7. Abolition of the colonial code of discipline 8. Introduction of the check off system for KNUT The activities of KNUT intensified over the years and the Lawrence Commission was appointed by the government to iron out teacher’s demands made by KNUT. KNUT disagreed with the recommendations made by the commission and called for a strike to press for legitimate demands. The call for the strike was a threat to the colonial government, hence the government appointed another commission – Teachers Salaries Commission which was not different from the previous one. During this time teacher had different employers and their salaries payments points were decentralized to County Council for Primary School teachers while secondary teachers and teacher trainers were paid under the Board of Governors and Government. The National Radio at that time was used for teachers would get information whether to go for their salaries or not. When the salary was not sent at the end of the month, they would receive information informing them not to go for their salaries. The Union pressured the government to establish one employer for all teachers to end teachers being ridiculed month after month. The branch executive secretaries would collect the monthly dues of each member at the teacher’s pay centres at the county council offices (for primary teachers) which the branch leadership retained a percentage of the dues and forwarded the rest to Headquarter. KNUT North Nyanza branch was the first to be granted check off after the branch leadership had an agreement with the then Education Officer (MOE). Later by 1963, the Union was granted a check-off system by the government. The lack of finances was the biggest setback in the Union progress. KNUT employed its first fulltime Executive Officer to assist the Secretary General in general administrative duties of the Union. TRAINING HANDBOOK FOR KNUT LEADERSHIP – 2024 22 8 Once KNUT was registered, the leadership discovered that the grievances they had could not be addressed because the teachers had different employers who were not willing to sit at the negotiation table. During this time KNUT HQ was overloaded with teacher’s cases. Thus KNUT was forced to put pressure on the colonial government to establish by legislation, one teachers employer to address teachers matters. The colonial government did not respond positively, KNUT had to use additional pressure backed by a series of strikes from 1962 to 1966 to push the Government to review the teachers’ salaries terms and condition of service similar to civil servants which had already been reviewed among other issues. The first organized KNUT first organized a token strike of four days to demonstrate to the government that teachers were united and were not ready to tolerate the negative attitude adopted by the government. However, the colonial government firmly believed that KNUT could not stage a strike. The strikes were in two phases; sample teachers strikes as per some of the branches which between 19th and 20th March, then second phase 26th and 27th March, both phases were highly successful later the first National strike was organized from 18th September to 11th October, 1962 and displayed that KNUT had become a force to reckon with. The strike went on for 21 days. The 1962 strike achieved unified terms of service for all teachers of equal qualification regardless of the work location. Though the strike had achieved some gains for teachers, the Union realized that the system in place still had real impediments because of the different levels of resources available to the various local authorities that employed teachers for instance some teachers lacked salaries and went for months without their pay. KNUT has continued to be instrumental among all the Unions in the country and when all other Unions in Kenya were prohibited from international affiliations KNUT was allowed by the government to affiliate as a professional body to World Confederation of Organizations of the Teaching Profession (WCOPT) assembly the current Education International, which was established to promote the consolidation of teachers’ unions to have one union in each country, to support its members, and to exchange professional knowledge. KNUT sought affiliation with COTU by 1963 after recommendations were made by the Commission appointed by the then former President Jomo Kenyatta that all Trade Unions must affiliate with COTU of which Mr. Kioni was elected as the Assistant Secretary General, while other KNUT officials held key positions in COTU, such as Director of Industrial Relations (COTU) held by Mr. Lubulela; positions of Provincial Secretary Western, Eastern, Central, Coast and Rift Valley Province held by other KNUT officials. COTU continuously and fully supported KNUT in its activities even the vital strike of 1966. However later in 1969 all the Unions affiliated to COTU that is KNUT, Civil Servants Union and Kenya Union of Journalist were disaffiliated from COTU through a newspaper article without any explanation given. In June 1964 KNUT reviewed its structures and the position of an Assistant to Secretary General was created. The office was charged with duties of an Organizing Secretary of the Union who was to ensure that all the larger branches employed full time Branch Executive Secretaries. In 1965 the KNUT Constitution was revised to allow KNUT to affiliate to COTU, change the title of the President to National Chairman and also to enable the Union to subject its Secretary General to election like other Trade Unions. In the response for a single employer for teachers which was a key point agitated by KNUT, the government in 1965 made half-hearted response by appointing a two-man Commission chaired by the Kikuyu Constituency MP (by then Joseph Gatuguta) and an Educationist as Secretary (Simon TRAINING HANDBOOK FOR KNUT LEADERSHIP – 2024 23 9 Adagala). KNUT protested the inadequacy of the committee to address teacher’s needs and simultaneously demanded a legally constituted and competent single employer for the profession. The Gatuguta Commission was scrapped off and no alternative was provided. This led to a second strike on October 11th to 13th 1965. The strike was short-lived because it was promptly declared illegal by the government, the Union officials were arrested and the key issue of one single employer for all teachers remained unresolved. The then Minister for Labour referred the Union grievances to the industrial court, where the cases against the KNUT officials were withdrawn and a board of inquiry led by Sam Waruhiu (Lawyer/advocate) appointed to look into teachers’ grievances. Due to lack of an employer to address teachers matters, teachers brought their issues at the KNUT HQ, thus the staff were overloaded cases of teachers. This led the Union to deploy Branch Executive secretaries to serve full time to handle teacher’s problems prior to the establishment of TSC. The third national strike that took place from 1st to 3rd November, 1966 was brief but very historic since all Union officials were arrested and Mr. Mulindi who was absent at the time, arrived after and presented himself to the CID Headquarters offering to be arrested alongside his colleagues. The government later released the Union officials and withdrew all charges against them and responded positively by accepting to establish an employer the Teachers Service Commission. The TSC was established through a bill tabled in parliament by the then Minister for Education the Hon. Jeremiah Nyagah. The bill was debated and passed in 1966 as chapter 212 of the Laws of Kenya officially establishing TSC as the as the sole employer for all teachers in public schools in Kenya in the late 1966. The TSC became operational from 1st July 1967. After Teacher Service Commission (TSC) was created as an Act of Parliament (Cap 212), in May 1968, KNUT signed the first Recognition Agreement with TSC and followed by the establishment of Teachers Service Appeals Tribunal. The TSC Act cap 212 had provisions for the first Teachers Service Remuneration Committee (TSRC) section 13 and 14 chaired by the then Nyeri MP Henry Mureithi was appointed in August 1968 by the then Education Minister Dr. Kiano. Its first assignment was a general review of teachers’ salaries and recommend new pay for teachers of all grades at the end of June 1969 among several issues raised by teachers over the years. However the government turned down most of the recommendations and failed to implement the proposed salaries structure prompting KNUT to write to Ministry of Labour forcing the Union to call its Fourth strike staged from 4th to 11th November, 1969. A Return-towork formula by KNUT demanded the implementation of the TSRC Recommendation in full and after a major legal battle KNUT came out victorious and Industrial Court case number 49 of 1969 presided over by Justice Saeed Cockar, L. J. Deacon and F. Omindo ruled in KNUT’s favour. As an achievement of the strike, the Minister of Education agreed to implement the recommendation of the TSRC recording numerous achievements for teachers. 1970-2001 The KNUT Top 3 leadership during this span of years was; 1. Mr. John Katumanga – National Chairman 2. Mr. Ambrose Adeya Adongo- Secretary General 3. Mr. John Bosco Mboga – National Treasurer The late Mr. Ambrose Adeya Adongo was elected the 2nd Secretary General a position he held for 3 decades during which significant improvement in the circumstances of Kenyan Teachers was witnessed. It was during this span of years that KNUT built and moved to its Current office building at KNUT HOUSE, Mfangano Street in 1974. TRAINING HANDBOOK FOR KNUT LEADERSHIP – 2024 24 10 KNUT hosted World Confederation of organizations of the Teaching Profession (WCOTP) conference at KICC and All Africa Teachers Organization (AATO) was born at the conference. It was during the tenure of Mr. Adongo’s, that the post of Assistant National Treasurer/vice national treasurer was created in 1971. Prior to this the duties of the treasurer were handled by the secretary general. During this tenure several salary commissions and committees were appointed by both Late President Jomo Kenyatta and President Daniel Moi to review of Terms and Conditions of Service for teachers. These included: i) The Ndegwa Commission of 1970/71 ii) The Waruhiu Committee of 1979/80 iii) The Ramtu Committee of 1985 iv) The Mbithi Committee of 1990/91 By 1978, The Late former President Mr. Daniel Torotich Arap Moi assumed presidency and made massive expansion of the education sector in the country with deliberate investments in both primary, secondary and university education that saw membership of KNUT expand rapidly. KNUT called for a fifth strike in 1989 to press for the implementation of the Scheme of Service for graduate teachers. The strike was eventually called off after personalized harassment of KNUT senior officials by government such as bugging their telephones, invading their offices and monitoring their movements. This tenure also experienced a number of Industrial court cases between KNUT and TSC, such as the industrial Court Case no. 40 of 1969 after KNUT won the case against TSC the MOE became more careful in handling issues demanded by the Union. They made every effort to settle disputes without reaching the Courts. However, this could not last forever because after nearly 20 years there was a dispute arising from Prof. Mbithi Awards. In June 1990 the president appointed a new civil service salaries review committee under chairmanship of Prof. Mbithi and Mr. Ambrose Adongo appointed as a member. The committee recommended the teaching service be divided into Job groups ranging from A to P. however implementing Mbithi awards generated a serious dispute between KNUT and TSC over the new salary scales proposed for the scheme of service for non-graduate teachers. There was a major amendment of KNUT Constitution in 1982 to include a Women Representative in the National Executive Council (NEC) and Branch Executive Committee (BEC). Ten years late the post of School Representative was created in the KNUT constitution in 1992 and in 1993 KNUT employed Branch Executive Secretaries from the Small branches In 1993 Mr. Ng’ang’a became the Deputy Secretary General after a by-election occasioned by the death of Mr. Willy Mudigo. He served in the position for 8 years deputizing the late Ambrose A. Adongo. The fifth/sixth National Teachers strike was organized on October 1st 1997 to demand the government to revoke the proposed pay agreement that reduced the teacher’s salary increase from 200% to between 10 to 30 percent. KNUT won the battle for an increased teachers’ salaries between 150 to 200 percent after the government heeded to KNUT’s call, their demands were heard and a deal was signed. The strike was called off. On 13th October, 1997, there was a Return-to-work Formula in which the government undertook to improve the teacher’s remuneration over a period of five years. The First phase of the five-phase salary increment was paid. The agreement contained a schedule “A” indicating how the teacher’s salary increment would escalate in percentage over the five. Schedule “B” indicated how the allowance (house, medical; responsibility; special; hardship and commuter allowances) would be improved over the period to ending in 2001. After the general elections of 1997/8, President and the Government of the day recounted out its deal with teachers’ and blocked its ears their pleas to honour the signed deal. They had another strike which did not bother the government much and after few weeks out of class, the teachers reluctantly decided to go back to teach. This historic strike of 1998 shook the entire KANU administration and has remained a milestone in the documented history of the teachers struggle for their rights. 2001-2008 The KNUT Top leadership during this tenure included; 1. Mr. Joseph Chirchir – National Chairman 2. Mr. Francis Ng’ang’a – Secretary General 3. Mr. Peter Mutulu – National Treasurer The death of the fearless warrior Adongo was a blow to KNUT Leadership since he had waged its biggest battle ever for better remuneration. Mr. F. M. Ng’ang’a was elected the third KNUT Secretary General. Mr. Ng’ang’a took over after Mr. A. Adongo’s death. KNUT and teachers continued to grieve over the broken deal as the government failed to live up to its promise. However, during the tenure of Mr. Ng’ang’a, KNUT lead the longest teachers strike in the Kenyan history in 2002 and on 3rd December 2002, it was agreed that the teachers’ salaries as reflected in the Teachers Remuneration Order, 1997 would be paid over a period of ten years ending in 2013. The government proceeded to honour the payments of salaries as per schedule “A”; while leaving the allowances in schedule “B” in suspended animation. In May, 2003, pursuant to a series of meetings, the NARC government agreed to shorten the period of payment for the teacher’s salary increment from ten (10) years to six (6) yeas and that in the subsequent year the two parties would meet to see whether the period can be reduced to five (5) years depending on the growth of the national economy. KNUT continued to put pressure on the government of Kenya to shorten the six phases of teachers’ salary award. ln March, 2003, KNUT and the government agreed to reduce the period agreed earlier from six (6) to five (5) years. The implementation began in July 2003 to July 2007. This marked the fulfilment of salaries as per schedule “A’ of the Teachers’ Remuneration Order, 1997. However, KNUT kept reminding the government that there was a schedule “B” of the 1997 agreement (the allowances: house, medical; responsibility; special; hardship and commuter) that was yet to be fulfilled. Government implemented the remaining two phases of teachers’ salary award. During this tenure KNUT was recognized for successfully agitating for automatic promotion of the 78,000 teachers who had stagnated for over 15 years in service in 2004, the promotion of S1 and Diploma teachers from recognized universities to be moved to Job Group ‘J’ or ATS III. The continued fight against the proposed signing of performance contracts and push for better pay packages for teachers. In addition to the commencement of the Implementation of Scheme of Service for nograduate, graduate and Technical teachers. KNUT organized celebrations for its golden jubilee- 50 years since inception with activities starting early in the year 2007 for all the branches and culminating with tree planting of more than 1000 trees. The head office launched the celebrations on 26th October 2007 at Pumwani secondary where KNUT was founded and at Juja where the pioneer Mr. Kioni the first secretary General was believed to have stayed in 1958 while drafting the first KNUT constitution. The climax was the Annual Delegates Conference in December 2007 where the KNUT strategic plan 2008-2013 was launched. 2008-2010 The KNUT Top leadership during this tenure include: 1. Mr. George Wesonga – National Chairman 2. Mr. Lawrence Majali – Secretary General 3. Mr. Fred Ontere – National Treasurer In January 2009 KNUT called a national teachers’ strike which the Education Minister then Mr. Sam Ongeri labelled illegal, and warned that teachers who participated in it or inciting others to take part would be arrested, sacked or would have their salaries withheld. On the first day of strike 42 teachers and union officials were arrested. Confrontations between protesting teachers/ and KNUT officials, on one hand, and police on the other, took place in different parts of Kenya. The strike was later declared illegal by the industrial court but continued for 11 days until it was called off after an agreement was reached over a phase-in pay rise. In a further reprisal against those who took part in the national teachers’ strike in January, the Teachers’ Service Commission (TSC) refused to deduct and remit union dues to the KNUT for the month of January. However, the TSC did remit the January deductions for KUPPET, whose members did not go on strike. The KNUT nationwide strike also culminated into the government to reverse its policy of employing teachers on contract basis and also pushed the TSC to reverse its policy on freezing teacher employment. Subsequently the number of employed teachers has rose from 240,000 to the current 278,000. P1 ‘A’ level teachers numbering over 4,000 were awarded salary increase to Job Group ‘L’ and ATS scale in 2010 In February, only a week after the negotiated resolution of the national teachers’ strike, a directive from the Teachers’ Service Commission (TSC) ordered 90,000 teachers who served as school heads, deputies, department heads and senior teachers to exit the Kenya National Union of Teachers’ (KNUT) and the Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET). The directive ordered teachers to resign their positions or face disciplinary action. The Unions appealed against the directive and further discussions were held with the TSC, and it was resolved that teachers in management positions would join the Union but could not take up leadership posts. This position was set out in the Revised TSC Code of Conduct and Regulations for teachers in Kenya. 2010-2013 The KNUT Top leadership during this tenure include: 1. Mr. Wilson Sossion – National Chairman 2. Mr. David Okuta Osiany- Secretary General 3. Mr. Albanus Mutisya – National Treasurer In September, 2012 the former Member of Parliament for Gichugu (Hon. Martha Karua) tabled a Petition signed by twenty-one (21) members of the Kenya National Union of Teachers and related to a Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) entered into between the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) and KNUT in 1997. The CBA resulted into the gazettement of the Remuneration of the Teacher’s Order vide Legal Notice No. 534 of 1997. KNUT demanded a 300% salary increment, based on new economic realities. KNUT also demanded for harmonization of allowances. The court ruled that a Collective Bargaining Agreement should be signed by the Teachers Service Commission and the Kenya National Union of Teachers within 30 days from the 30th of July and that the increment be backdated to July 2013 extending to July 2017. 2013 – 2021 The KNUT Top leadership during this tenure include: 1. Mr. Mudzo Nzili – National Chairman 2. Mr. Wilson Sossion- Secretary General 3. Mr. John Matiangi – National Treasurer The government failed to settle an outstanding pay dispute where KNUT officials were lobbying for the increase of basic pay for teachers due to the fact that most teachers were in deplorable living conditions and grappling with a high cost of living. The government was however adamant that the proposals by the teachers cannot be met due to the prevailing economic conditions which were not conducive. The government also contended that the Salaries and Remuneration Commission should be involved to ensure the deal complies with the law. KNUT pushed for promotion of S1 teachers on account of higher qualifications and a majority of the ‘P1’ ‘A’ level teachers were promoted. National Executive Council endorsed a planned nationwide teachers’ strike to protest the government’s failure to honour a court ruling that granted teachers a 50-60 percent pay increase and the government for frustrating negotiations on a Collective Bargaining Agreement. The Union accused the Teachers Service Commission of failure to implement the salary and allowances increments as agreed. KNUT called for a one-month industrial action to call for a CBA negotiation with TSC. The Research department was started at KNUT Headquarters. Gender Desk was started at the KNUT HQ to streamline gender equity and equality in KNUT and the Women’s Caucus meeting started prior to ADC 2014 on the role of women in the labour movement. During this period KNUT and TSC signed the first-ever cashless CBA agreement to run from the year 2013 – 2017 KNUT has continued to demand the withdrawal of a TSC circular on career progression guidelines that came to replace the Schemes of Service without in the teaching service. Pension Superannuation scheme was implemented. KNUT took a critical step in the scrutiny and evaluation of the new curriculum to cushion the government of the day. KNUT pushed for a repeal of the delocalization policy by TSC for the danger it has possed to the family structure. 2021 to date The KNUT Top leadership during this tenure include; 1. Mr. Patrick Karinga Munuhe – National Chairman 2. Mr. Collins Henry Oyuu – Secretary General 3. Mr. James Muuo Ndiku – National Treasurer KNUT has continued to push for the withdrawal of the delocalization policy by TSC. KNUT played a key role during the public participation forums with the presidential working party giving key recommendations on implementation of the competency-based curriculum, domiciling junior school, early childhood education placement, teacher discipline tribunal, contract teachers period, review of CPG and withdrawal of contentious issues, repeal of delocalization policy, teacher employment and promotion among other concerns. Over the years KNUT has given its contribution and recommendation during the review of the TSC Act, Basic Education Bill, among other bills. With the employment of intern teachers KNUT pushed the government to reverse the employment of teachers on a contract basis and replace it with permanent and pensionable terms as per the law and code of regulation of teachers KNUT pushed for the employment of more teachers and the government responded by the employment of 56,123 Teachers. KNUT signed the KNUT-TSC CBA for the years 2021– 2025 on the 28th day of August 2023. 1.7 KNUT Achievements Specifically, the union has: – · Fought and secured a single employer for the teachers namely the Teachers Service Commission (TSC). · Secured unified and integrated terms and conditions of service for all teachers. · Promoted and implemented training progmmes aimed at improving both the academic and professional competence of teachers. · Contributed substantially to professional development of education through District Education Boards, Boards of Governors, University and College Councils, KIE Subject and Course Panels and, especially National Education Committees and Commissions. · Promoted initiatives aimed at improving the socio-economic status of the members. Five basic avenues have been used here, namely Burial and Benevolent Funds (BBF); Investments through Teachers Enterprises, Saving and Credit Cooperative Societies (SACCO’s) Children’s Education Fund and Housing Cooperatives. · Apart from securing the TSC as a single employer for teachers, and salary increases over the years, additional achievements of the union included the following: –
u Free Pension Scheme for Teachers; u Automatic House allowances. u Paid Maternity Leave (60 working days); u Motor Vehicle Purchase Scheme; u Responsibility Allowances u Hardship Allowances u Automatic Commuter Allowances; u Accommodation or Night Allowances u Scheme of Service for Non-Graduate, Graduate and Technical Teachers. · Successfully fighting for the promotion of teachers over the years and his continued fight against the proposed signing of performance contracts, pushing for better pay packages for teachers. · Maintaining nation teacher’s strikes started by KNUT as an effective voice of teachers and from then on, the employer and government accepted the broad principle of negotiating at length all issues raised by teachers through the Union. · In 1967 all Unions were prohibited from but KNUT was the only given international affiliations as a professional body by the government with World Confederation of Organizations of the Teaching Profession (WCOTP). · KNUT takes pride in having initiated elaborated teacher centred programmes aimed at improving both the academic and professional competence of its members. · · The Union has also contributed massively to the development of education through its membership of District Education Boards, Board of Governors, University and College Councils, KICD, subject and course panels and National Education Committees and Commission. · · KNUT also promoted initiative aimed at improving the social, economic status of its members through BBF’s, Investments through Teachers Enterprises, Savings and Credit Organizations, Children Education Fund and Housing Cooperation. · · All the privileges and benefits enjoyed by the teachers have been successfully fought for by KNUT which also secured the establishment of Teachers Service Commission. · · KNUT a cradle for leadership development in the country and beyond. Key Union officials have climbed to senior public service and political leadership, such as: ……………… · · In 2011 KNUT realigned its constitution to conform to the Kenyan Constitution 2010 Chapter two, Article27 (8) and Sustainable Development Goal 5 (five) on Gender Equality by introducing affirmative action positions for two National Women Representatives at the KNUT National Steering, two female National Executive Council members from Rift Valley and one from each of the seven regions (KNUT Constitution Article V (2) and Article 1X (A) (2). · · Branch Women Representative position on affirmative action was created in KNUT Branches and were to be members of Branch Steering Committee, KNUT county council, KNUT regional Council and KNUT National Advisory Council (NAC) (KNUT Constitution Article X(C) 1, (H)1 and (I) ·
· KNUT introduced one Persons Living With Disability (PWD)position on affirmative action at KNUT National Executive Council level and at the KNUT Branch Level (KNUT Constitution Article 1X(A)2, Article X (A)3 and (C)1)