Embu Junior Secondary Teachers Threaten Strike Over Intimidation
Embu, Kenya – September 20, 2025: Junior Secondary (JSS) teachers in Embu County, under the Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET), have threatened to go on strike over alleged intimidation and mistreatment by primary school heads.
The teachers claim that the integration of JSS into primary schools has created tensions, with some administrators viewing them as rivals. According to the teachers, this has led to a toxic work environment characterized by disrespect and harassment from school leadership.
Led by KUPPET Branch Executive Secretary Jacob Karura, the teachers have petitioned the government to make JSS institutions fully autonomous, arguing that independence would restore their dignity and improve working conditions. They have also written to the National Assembly urging legislators to enact laws that would grant JSS full autonomy.
Karura warned that the teachers are prepared to either strike or seek legal redress to protect their careers and the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC), which they say is being undermined by the current arrangement. “Merging pre-primary, primary, and junior secondary under a single administration threatens the quality of education,” he said.
County JSS Interim Chair David Ngari echoed the concern, noting that the 2-6-3-3-3 education system was designed on the principle that each stage of learning should stand independently. He argued that the merger dilutes this structure and weakens the Competency-Based Education (CBE) framework.
The teachers further called for dedicated boards and governance structures for JSS, as well as ring-fencing of resources allocated to the schools. They also pushed for the construction and equipping of specialized facilities such as laboratories and ICT hubs to enhance learning outcomes.
