Teachers have criticised the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) for restricting their participation in union activities during the third term, describing it as unconstitutional and a violation of their rights to association and expression.
A section of the Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) officials said the directive was an attempt to silence teachers ahead of the union’s elections slated for January 2026.
In an internal memo addressed to regional, county, and sub-county directors, the TSC instructed all education officials across the country to ensure that schools remain free from union-related or social activities during the term.
The circular, which was dispatched to all field offices, further directed school administrators to strictly supervise learning institutions to ensure that they remain focused on academic programmes and that no external activities, particularly those related to union politics, should disrupt the school environment.
“No social activities, such as union campaigns, should take place in schools during working hours or at any time in a way that disrupts learning, exam preparation, or management,” reads the circular.
The directive comes just months before the KUPPET elections, which are expected to take place in January 2026.
Vihiga Branch Executive Secretary Sabala Inyeni faulted the move, saying it was unconstitutional and completely uncalled for. He termed it an infringement on the liberal and democratic rights of teachers.
“When teachers go to schools, they are not disrupting or interfering with any learning activities; they are simply exercising their rights as citizens and professionals. It is, therefore, very wrong for the TSC to come out and start issuing directives preventing participation. I hope this is not a gag to control who wins the elections,” Inyeni said.
Kisii Branch Executive Secretary Abincha Joseph said the directive came as a surprise, especially since the Registrar of Trade Unions had already issued timelines for the upcoming KUPPET elections scheduled to begin in January.
Laikipia County KUPPET Executive Secretary Robert Miano said the directive should only apply during the national examination period.
“This directive should only apply when national exams are underway, not during regular school activities,” Miano said.
The union officials have urged the TSC to withdraw the circular, arguing that it undermines teachers’ freedom of association and expression, and could interfere with the smooth conduct of union elections.
This year, national examinations and assessments will begin on October 17 and run until November 21, 2025, marking a critical phase for learners under both the 8-4-4 and Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC) systems.
The Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) Chief Executive Officer, David Njengere, said a total of 3,424,836 candidates will sit for the national examinations and assessments across the country.
Of these, 996,078 candidates have registered for the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE), 1,298,089 will sit for the Kenya Primary School Education Assessment (KPSEA), while 1,130,669 candidates will take the Kenya Junior School Education Assessment (KJSEA), the first group under the CBC system.
To ensure smooth administration, Njengere said the Council has deployed 54,782 invigilators and 12,126 supervisors to oversee this year’s KCSE examinations. An additional 24,213 centre managers have also been appointed to manage the KJSEA and KPSEA assessments.
“The field administration of the 2025 examinations and assessments is scheduled to start on Friday, October 17, and end on Friday, November 21, 2025,” Njengere said.