Makueni JSS Intern Teachers are Joined by Kuppet Officials in a demonstration to demand for absorption into Permanent and Pensanable terms. Photo by Ruth Mutanu. 
By Ruth Mutanu and Felistus Ndinda.
Junior Secondary School (JSS) intern teachers in Makueni County on Wednesday took to the streets of Wote town, protesting delayed confirmation into permanent and pensionable terms by the national government.
The demonstrations, backed by officials from the Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET), highlighted growing frustration among the educators over what they termed as unfair labour practices and prolonged uncertainty in their employment status.
Led by Makueni JSS KUPPET Secretary Kisoi Evans, the teachers maintained that internship in the teaching profession is being misapplied, arguing that qualified graduates should not be classified as interns. Evans noted that interns, by definition, are students or trainees, and therefore equating them to fully trained teachers undermines both professionalism and the quality of education.
He further pointed to a recent court ruling which declared the internship model illegal, insisting that those currently serving under the program should not be treated as teachers in waiting but as fully qualified professionals deserving of confirmation.
“We cannot afford to lose the 44,000 teachers currently serving under internship. They are handling the same workload as permanently employed teachers and deserve equal treatment, including job security and benefits,” said Evans.
The educators decried disparities in remuneration and benefits, noting that intern teachers are excluded from key entitlements such as medical cover, housing allowances, and commuter benefits, despite performing identical duties as their permanently employed counterparts.
KUPPET Makueni Chairman Erastus Kimetu sharply criticized Members of Parliament for what he described as inaction, urging them to allocate funds to facilitate the absorption of the teachers into permanent terms. He termed the continued engagement of teachers under internship as “illegitimate,” especially following the court’s position on the matter.
“We cannot operate in a country that embraces illegality. Parliament must act and approve funding to transition these teachers into permanent employment,” Kimetu said, warning that continued delay could trigger industrial unrest.
Treasurer Cosmas Muteti echoed similar sentiments, describing the current internship framework as exploitative. He argued that the one-year contracts issued to teachers contravene legal provisions which cap internships at six months, further accusing the government of taking advantage of the teachers’ labour under the guise of employment.
“These are not students. They are trained professionals with families and responsibilities. Paying them a monthly stipend of Sh17,000 is not only inadequate but demeaning,” Muteti stated.
KUPPET Vice-Chair Nicholas Mukula urged the teachers to remain united and resist intimidation, expressing confidence that their push for confirmation would succeed. He reaffirmed the union’s commitment to advocating for their rights, emphasizing that the distinction between intern and permanent teachers is unjustified.
Youth Representative Florence Muendo and Gender Secretary Mercy Muthoka also weighed in, calling on the government to respect court decisions and end what they termed as discrimination against intern teachers. They stressed that the educators face real-life responsibilities, including supporting families and paying school fees, which cannot be sustained under the current terms.
The protest in Wote reflects a broader national outcry by JSS intern teachers who have been demanding formal employment, citing equal workload and professional qualifications. The demonstrators warned that failure by the government to address their grievances could disrupt learning in schools across the country.
As pressure mounts, attention now shifts to the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) and Parliament, with stakeholders urging swift action to resolve the impasse and safeguard the future of thousands of teachers and learners alike.
