The Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) has accused the government of ignoring a worsening teacher shortage and delaying long-overdue promotions, leaving more than 130,000 teachers stuck in the same job groups for years.

Speaking during a press briefing on Wednesday, KUPPET Secretary General Akelo Misori said the government’s focus on “side shows” during the 2025 Devolution Conference was misplaced while classrooms across the country continue to suffer from severe understaffing.

“The government should provide funds to promote the 130,000 teachers who have stagnated for years and employ at least 160,000 more to address the acute shortage. The deficit is particularly severe at the junior secondary school level, where more than 60,000 teachers are needed,” Misori said.

He warned that prolonged stagnation has demoralised teachers and undermined education delivery, urging the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) to fast-track promotions and fill existing vacancies.

The union also faulted counties for mismanaging key services such as healthcare, warning that handing over education to devolved units would expose the sector to the same failures. Misori argued that devolution would erode quality standards in schools.

“Healthcare is often disrupted by staff strikes, ghost workers, and a lack of medical supplies. That is what devolved units can offer, and this is why education cannot be left to them. Instead of pushing for a referendum, we are urging leaders to address pressing challenges in the sector,” he said.

The debate comes after former Prime Minister Raila Odinga proposed transferring the management of primary and secondary education to counties to reduce bureaucracy and bring services closer to citizens.

KUPPET National Chair Omboko Milemba rejected the idea, warning that devolving education would dismantle the TSC and transfer teacher employment to counties.

He pointed out that counties had already failed to handle Early Childhood Development (ECD) teachers, who face low and delayed pay.

“Saying we devolve education means scrapping TSC and handing over teacher employment to county governments. Counties have already failed to pay Early Childhood Development (ECD) teachers adequately and on time,” Milemba said.

He also invoked past struggles, noting that teachers had consistently opposed such proposals.

“In 2005, teachers roundly rejected the proposed new Constitution, which recommended devolution of education. In 2010, our support for the current Constitution was driven by its safeguards for education, including TSC’s independence,” he said.

Alongside the recruitment and promotion demand, KUPPET has proposed wide reforms in the sector.

These include abolishing bursaries and scholarships in favour of free education at all levels, increasing school funding, and integrating junior secondary schools into existing secondary institutions to utilise current infrastructure and teachers.

The union also wants boarding schools phased out by 2030 to allow learners to study closer to home.

“The government should provide a budget for the employment of 106,000 new teachers to meet the current deficit declared by TSC. The deficit is acute at the JSS level, which stands at more than 60,000 teachers,” Misori said.

On school funding, KUPPET welcomed President William Ruto’s recent assurance that the government will maintain Sh22,244 as annual capitation per secondary school student.

This followed Treasury’s earlier decision to cut the figure to Sh16,900, a move the union said would have pushed schools deeper into debt.