A photo of JSS teacher leaders with the Member of Parliament at JPP Mwatate during the inaugural AGM of the Mwatate JSS teachers.
The Kenya Junior School Teachers Association (KEJUSTA) has issued a strong warning to all Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) aspirants ahead of the upcoming union elections, declaring that the autonomy of Junior Secondary Schools (JSS) will be the deciding factor in who gets their support.
In an official statement dated 11th September 2025, KEJUSTA Chairperson James Everns Odhiambo made it clear that any aspirant who fails to openly support the full autonomy of JSS — including financing, organizational independence, and active representation of teachers’ demands — will not receive votes from JSS teachers. This bold move places JSS autonomy at the center of education union politics in 2025.
Why KEJUSTA Is Demanding Autonomy for Junior Secondary Schools
Since the rollout of the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC), the placement and management of Junior Secondary Schools has remained one of the thorniest issues in Kenya’s education sector. Initially domiciled in primary schools, JSS institutions have struggled with administrative confusion, underfunding, and professional identity challenges. Teachers have long raised concerns about the lack of clear systems to support their unique role in the CBC transition.
Some of the biggest challenges KEJUSTA highlights include:
- Inadequate financing: Many JSS institutions depend on minimal resources, leaving teachers and learners struggling with inadequate teaching materials and facilities.
- Unclear leadership structures: Without autonomy, JSS schools remain tied to primary school administration, reducing their efficiency and undermining the authority of JSS teachers.
- Representation gaps: JSS teachers often feel sidelined in both union politics and government negotiations, with their demands diluted under broader primary or secondary agendas.
KEJUSTA now insists that granting full autonomy to JSS is not a privilege but a necessity for quality education and professional recognition.
“The autonomy of Junior Secondary Schools is not just an option — it is a necessity. It must be granted now,” reads part of the statement.
This demand builds on previous frustrations expressed by teachers and unions about TSC’s handling of reforms, echoing sentiments raised in earlier protests by KNUT and KUPPET leaders. In fact, teachers have repeatedly said “enough is enough”, warning that their voices cannot continue to be ignored in critical decisions shaping education.
The Conditions KEJUSTA Has Set for KUPPET Aspirants
KEJUSTA has gone beyond rhetoric by spelling out specific conditions that aspirants must meet to earn their support in the upcoming elections. According to their statement, aspirants are expected to:
- Advocate for full autonomy of JSS through proper financing, recognition, and clear administrative structures.
- Actively organize and present teachers’ demands to the Ministry of Education, TSC, and Parliament, ensuring that JSS issues remain a priority.
- Finance countywide press briefings and outreach campaigns to amplify the voice of JSS teachers at both grassroots and national levels.
The association has warned that empty promises will no longer be tolerated.
“If you want to lead us, show your leadership now — through concrete actions, not just words,” Odhiambo emphasized.
This is a marked shift in union politics, where aspirants are usually judged on popularity or regional affiliations rather than issue-based commitments.
Implications for KUPPET Elections 2025
The KUPPET elections have always been highly contested, with aspirants battling for influence across counties. However, KEJUSTA’s latest statement could significantly shape this year’s campaigns. With thousands of JSS teachers forming a sizeable voting bloc, their unified stance could tilt the balance in favor of candidates who openly support JSS autonomy.
For aspirants, ignoring this demand could prove politically costly. On the other hand, embracing KEJUSTA’s call for autonomy may secure them overwhelming support from a dissatisfied but powerful group of educators.
The issue also comes at a time when teachers are already facing financial strains. With the Social Health Authority (SHA) deductions and other levies eating into salaries, unions are under pressure to prove they can defend members’ welfare. Recent debates over the SWAL levy and its impact on teachers’ payslips have further heightened scrutiny of union leadership.
By linking their votes to autonomy, JSS teachers are essentially weaponizing their ballots, making it clear that union leaders can no longer afford to treat their concerns as secondary.
What Autonomy Could Mean for Teachers and Learners
KEJUSTA has outlined several potential benefits of autonomy for both teachers and learners:
- Better funding structures tailored specifically for JSS, ensuring resources meet the unique needs of adolescents transitioning through CBC.
- Clearer administration with JSS principals and boards managing their schools independently from primary institutions.
- Stronger professional identity for JSS teachers, who have often felt overshadowed and undervalued within the education system.
- Improved quality of education through targeted resource allocation and specialized leadership.
Supporters argue that this would finally resolve the inefficiencies that have plagued JSS since its introduction. However, critics caution that autonomy could also create duplication of resources, governance challenges, and the need for additional funding streams at a time when the government is already stretched thin.
KEJUSTA’s Political Strategy: Votes as a Weapon
Perhaps the most striking element of KEJUSTA’s statement is its explicit use of voting power as leverage. The association concluded with a firm reminder that JSS teachers will not waste their votes on aspirants who do not prioritize their demands.
“Our vote is our voice — and we will use it wisely,” the statement concludes.
This marks a new era in teacher union politics, where votes are tied directly to issue-based demands rather than loyalty to personalities. For the first time, JSS teachers are uniting under one voice, signaling a shift in how education sector politics may be shaped in the years ahead.
The Bigger Picture: What’s Next for Teacher Unions in Kenya?
KEJUSTA’s ultimatum reflects broader changes in how teachers are engaging with their unions. Over the last few years, dissatisfaction has been mounting over leadership that many feel has been reactive rather than proactive. Teachers want results, not empty slogans.
If KEJUSTA’s strategy succeeds, it could set a precedent for other teacher groups to demand accountability through their voting power. For instance, P1 teachers, ECDE educators, and even senior secondary teachers could form issue-based alliances that redefine union politics altogether.
The upcoming KUPPET elections are, therefore, more than just leadership contests. They represent a battleground for the future of unionism in Kenya — whether it will remain personality-driven or transition into issue-driven leadership.
Conclusion
The battle for KUPPET leadership in 2025 is heating up, and KEJUSTA has thrown down the gauntlet. Junior Secondary teachers have made it clear that autonomy is non-negotiable, and their votes will only go to leaders who prioritize their demands.
As campaigns gather pace, aspirants will be forced to declare their stance on JSS autonomy or risk losing the support of a crucial voting bloc. For teachers and stakeholders, the big question remains: Will KUPPET leaders rise to the challenge and deliver autonomy for JSS, or will this become yet another unfulfilled promise in Kenya’s education sector?
Either way, one thing is certain: Junior Secondary teachers are no longer bystanders in union politics — they are now the game changers.
