Jss teachers in Kenya facing stand off with that government

The government of Kenya has been facing pressure to address the issue of Junior Secondary School (JSS) teachers' contracts. Currently, there are approximately 26,000 JSS intern teachers who were hired on temporary contracts, with their contracts set to expire on December 31, 2025.

According to reports, the government had initially promised to convert these teachers to permanent and pensionable terms, but the process has been delayed due to financial constraints. The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) requires an additional KSh 3.5 billion to facilitate the transition of these teachers to permanent employment.

The National Treasury has indicated that the confirmation of JSS interns to permanent terms will likely happen in the 2026/2027 financial year, aligning with the two-year service requirement. However, this has sparked frustration among the teachers, who are demanding immediate action to address their employment status.

In response, some JSS teachers have threatened to go on strike in January 2026 if their demands are not met. The Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) has supported the teachers' demands, calling for the government to prioritize their employment.

The government has allocated KSh 7.2 billion for JSS intern teachers in the 2025/2026 budget estimates, but this amount is insufficient to cover the costs of confirming all interns to permanent terms. The TSC is seeking additional funding through a supplementary budget to address the shortfall ¹ ² ³.

The situation remains uncertain, with the government and TSC working to address the funding gap and find a solution for the JSS teachers.