Officials from the Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (Kuppet) in Homa Bay are reaching out to politicians for assistance in achieving their financial goals.
They have set up a WhatsApp group and are utilizing various social media platforms to request financial support from teachers to sustain the union’s operations.
Kuppet is currently facing financial challenges, following a change in the Teachers Service Commission’s (TSC) policy. Unlike before, when TSC automatically deducted union dues from salaries and sent them directly to unions, teachers can now choose when to pay these dues.
As a result, some teachers are not remitting their dues to Kuppet, which has added to the union’s financial strain.
On Saturday, President William Ruto met with Kuppet officials at State House Nairobi, including national chairman Omboko Milemba and Secretary General Okello Misori. However, details of the meeting are limited.
According to Stephen Yogo, the executive secretary for Kuppet in Homa Bay, the union has 3,508 members in the county, each contributing 1.8 percent of their basic salary. Of this amount, 35 percent is sent to the national office, while the remainder is used for local activities.
Yogo noted that the union is struggling to continue its programs, including a planned office construction in Rangwena, which is projected to cost Sh4.8 million. Currently, Kuppet operates from an office that costs Sh20,000 per month, and the lack of funds has hindered the completion of the new office project.
The union had aimed to move into the new office in September, once the flooring was finished, but this plan has not materialized due to ongoing construction delays and unpaid contractors. Additionally, several staff members, including a driver, office secretary, and two security guards, have not received their salaries.
