The Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) has directed branches to complete the election of School KNUT Representatives by September 30. These KNUT School Representative elections will fill the last elective posts for the union’s 2026–2031 leadership term and are restricted to registered, paid-up members.
Key Takeaways
- Deadline: Branches must conclude School KNUT Representative elections by September 30.
- Eligibility: Only teachers whose payslips show Union Dues (not Agency Fees) may vote or be elected.
- Registration option: Teachers paying agency fees can convert to full membership via the T-Pay process and by sharing contact details with KNUT headquarters.
- Wider context: The elections complete KNUT’s 2026 leadership renewal and follow early-term wins on medical insurance, promotions, and education partnerships.
KNUT School Representative elections — what teachers need to know
School KNUT Representatives are the union’s frontline contacts in individual schools. Their role is to link classroom teachers to branch and national leadership. The current directive from Secretary General Collins Oyuu asks branch secretaries to organise and finalise these polls before the September 30 deadline so that the union’s leadership structure is complete for the 2026–2031 term.
Who can vote and why payslip status matters
Only registered KNUT members whose payslips display Union Dues may vote or stand for election. Some teachers find their payslips show Agency Fees instead. Agency fee payers benefit from negotiated Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) outcomes but are not card-carrying members and therefore lack voting rights. The deduction rate is the same (2% of basic pay); the difference is legal membership and voting entitlement.
How to change from Agency Fees to Union Dues (KNUT membership registration)
KNUT has provided a step-by-step procedure through the T-Pay platform to convert status and register as a full member. Follow these steps and ensure you also provide your TSC number and phone contact to KNUT headquarters for database capture.
- 1. Log in to your T-Pay account at tpay.tsc.go.ke.
- 2. Under the menu, select “Send Payslips.”
- 3. Choose “SWA” then select “KNUT – Union Dues.”
- 4. Click “Send OTP” and enter the One-Time Password sent to your phone.
- 5. Wait for the confirmation message: “Payslip sent to KNUT Union Dues.”
- 6. Share your TSC number and phone contact with KNUT Headquarters for membership capture. Contacts: Mark Oseno — 0726 979198; Peter Rotich — 0722 781045.
- 7. Finalise approval on the TSC Online Payslip portal under “My Transaction” → “Approve Transaction” → “Approve Loan.”
Only after completing all steps will your status change to Union Dues and you will be eligible to participate in the School KNUT Representative elections.
Early wins shaping the current leadership term
The push to finalise School Representative elections comes amid notable early achievements credited to the leadership team. These include the abolition of co-payment charges under the Social Health Authority (SHA) medical scheme, expanded coverage for specialised treatment, increased outpatient capitation, and more accredited health facilities under the scheme. The leadership also negotiated a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Open University of Kenya to help serving teachers access affordable further studies.
On promotions, KNUT’s engagement with the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) allowed P1 teachers deployed to junior schools with two years in grade to apply for advertised promotions — a temporary lowering from the usual three-year requirement. KNUT has also pushed for replacement of the 2018 Career Progression Guidelines with a new framework under review by the Salaries and Remuneration Commission to shorten promotion timelines.
Concerns and what to expect next
While branches organise the remaining polls, some teachers have raised concerns about internal unity, notably asking the current leadership to publicly acknowledge recent appointments of former union officials to government positions. Branches must balance the electoral timetable with continued advocacy on welfare issues and implementation of the early gains described above.
Resources for teachers
Teachers preparing for elections, promotions, or professional development may find these free resources useful:
- CBC lesson plans and teaching resources to support classroom delivery and continuous assessment preparation.
- JSS teaching notes for junior secondary teachers adapting to new roles and syllabuses.
- Past KCPE exam papers for teachers involved in primary school assessments and student revision.
Action for teachers: Check your payslip now. If it shows Agency Fees, follow the T-Pay steps and contact KNUT headquarters to register as a full member before branch elections close on September 30.
