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The Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers has urged the government to merge all bursary funds and prioritize the immediate hiring of 44,000 junior school intern teachers on permanent and pensionable terms.
The union wants the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) to seek additional funding from Parliament to absorb the interns, following a ruling by the Court of Appeal of Kenya on February 27, 2026, which declared the internship programme незаконal, unconstitutional, and discriminatory.
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The court’s decision nullified the contracts of the 44,000 interns, effectively leaving them without jobs. Speaking on NTV’s Fixing the Nation, Kuppet national chairman Omboko Milemba said the union will also push for compensation, arguing that the interns were underpaid and unfairly treated.
He noted that the teachers earned a Sh20,000 monthly stipend, taking home about Sh17,000 after deductions, describing the programme as exploitative.
To transition the interns into permanent roles, TSC would need about Sh2.5 billion monthly—roughly Sh30 billion annually. Entry-level teachers on permanent terms typically earn a basic salary of around Sh41,420, along with allowances.
Milemba called on TSC to urgently seek a supplementary budget from Parliament, noting that the current budget does not cater for the transition. He also proposed consolidating all education bursaries—including those issued by MPs, governors, and presidential scholarships—into a single pool to help fund teacher employment.
Additionally, he called for an audit of the Sh702.7 billion education budget for the 2025/26 financial year, citing underutilisation in some sectors.
Milemba dismissed fears that lawmakers would resist merging bursary funds, pointing out that Parliament had already initiated the process under the leadership of Moses Wetang’ula, with Junet Mohammed tasked to advance the motion.
Meanwhile, Kuppet Secretary General Akelo Misori warned that the union will move to court if TSC fails to comply with the ruling and absorb the teachers. He said the commission has until the end of the month to outline its implementation plan.
TSC has, however, indicated it needs more time to review the court ruling, citing the significant financial implications involved.
