The Kenya National Union of Teachers wants the government to raise their salaries by at least 60 per cent.
Knut deputy secretary general Hesbon Otieno said the current Collective Bargaining Agreement is set to expire on June 30.
Otieno said teachers will renegotiate their terms of employment to reflect the high cost of living and have sent their proposal to the Teachers Service Commission.
"We will not be accepting anything less than a 60 per cent increment on our salaries to go with the current state of the economy, and we’re asking TSC to expedite the process so it can be concluded before end of June," he said.
Speaking at Kiandangae ACK Church in Ndia constituency during the burial of retired teacher Harrison Miriithi, Otieno said the union will be demanding a 30 per cent raise of their allowances.
He urged the TSC to take their demands seriously or risk a nationwide strike that he said is imminent should the raise not be incorporated in the new CBA.
He faulted the government for it's decision to review hardship areas, a move that he said has affected numerous teachers and warned that they will come out strongly to defend the allowances if they are removed or cut.
"We want TSC to focus more on the welfare of the teachers and we will not rest until all those in hardship areas get their dues without deduction or discrimination".
The union also faulted the government for the delayed disbursement of capitation to schools.
Knut first vice chairman Joseph Langat appealed to MPs to ensure sufficient funds are allocated for capitation in the forthcoming budget to ensure schools function optimally.
Last month, the government released Sh22 billion for second term, shortly after Kenya Secondary School Heads Association chairperson Willy Kuria announced that schools were Sh70 billion in debt.
Langat asked the government to enhance security in Kerio Valley, saying learners and teachers lived in fear in some of the schools.
"No proper learning can occur when both teachers and learners are living in fear because of the many incidents of banditry," he said.
