The Executive Secretary of the Kenya Post Primary Education Teachers (KUPEET) Kilifi branch Baraka Tobias (left) accompanied by his Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) counterpart Katungo Mwaboza (right) and the Kilifi County Executive Committee Member (CECM) for Education Felkin Kaingu (centre) join teachers at Kilifi Township Senior school for an Iftar dinner. Photo by Ben Okweingoti. 
By Ben Okweingoti.
Teachers’ unions in Kilifi County have pledged closer collaboration to safeguard the welfare of educators, saying the move will enhance efficiency in service delivery and strengthen the education sector.
Leaders of the Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) and the Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) made the commitment during an Iftar dinner for teachers held at Town Secondary School in Kilifi Town.
Kilifi KNUT Executive Secretary Katungo Mwaboza and his KUPPET counterpart Tobias Baraka said teachers in the county continue to face significant welfare challenges, particularly with the transition to the Social Health Authority (SHA), which has forced some educators to meet medical expenses from their own pockets.
Baraka said unity among teachers and their unions is critical in addressing the challenges affecting the profession.
“As the Executive Secretary of KUPPET in Kilifi, I want to assure all teachers that we must work together so that we can fulfill our agenda of uplifting the welfare of teachers in our region,” he said.
Mwaboza noted that collaboration between the two unions would strengthen their ability to address teachers’ concerns and ultimately improve education standards.
“It is a rare occasion that has happened today. The new leadership in the two unions has decided to harmonise our working relationship so that we can achieve the goal of bettering the lives of each and every teacher,” he said.
Kilifi County Executive Committee Member for Education Felkin Kaingu said the county government continues to prioritise education through significant budgetary allocations.
Kaingu said the county sets aside more than Sh600 million annually for the education sector, with funds directed towards improving learning infrastructure and supporting needy learners through school fees programmes.
“The County Government of Kilifi sets aside Sh600 million every year for education. We believe that by working closely with teachers, we will achieve our goal of improving education standards in the county,” he said.
