The teachers were involved in administering and marking key examinations, including the Kenya Primary School Education Assessment (KPSEA), Kenya Junior Secondary Education Assessment (KJSEA), Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE), and the Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE).
According to union officials, the delay in payment has caused frustration among teachers, many of whom rely on the earnings to meet personal and professional obligations.
They say repeated appeals to the relevant authorities have not yielded results.
“We marked and supervised national exams in November and December. Until today in April, we are still asking to be paid,” lamented Morris Njira, Meru Executive Secretary for the Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET).
Njira said the situation has left teachers feeling undervalued, despite the critical role they play in ensuring the integrity and success of national examinations.
He added that the union has made several attempts to engage the authorities responsible, but no clear timeline has been provided regarding when payments will be made.
The union is now demanding immediate action, warning that teachers will down their tools at the beginning of the term if their concerns are not addressed.
Njira emphasised that the strike is not a decision taken lightly but one driven by the need to push for accountability and fairness.
He also noted that the delay has had a wider impact, with some teachers reportedly struggling financially after months without the expected payments.
The union is calling on KNEC and the Ministry of Education to urgently resolve the issue and prevent disruption to the school calendar.