Teaching unions in Samburu County have threatened to paralyze learning activities across the region following the death of a Junior Secondary School (JSS) teacher under unclear circumstances.
Representatives from the Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) and the Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) issued a seven-day industrial action notice during a media address on Tuesday, August 25, 2026.
The unions identified the deceased as Mark Dancun Lemaramba, a teacher posted in Samburu East who was reportedly killed by unknown assailants currently at large:
“KUPPET and KNUT Samburu County Branch expresses deep condemnation following the killing of a JSS teacher by the name Mark Dancun Lemaramba of Samburu East.”
Key Demands Sent to Security Agencies
The union leadership presented a set of conditions to the national government, warning that failure to meet them within seven days would result in a countywide withdrawal of teaching services:
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Apprehension of Suspects: Demand for the Ministry of Interior, the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), and local police to track down, arrest, and prosecute all individuals involved in the attack.
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Enhanced Security Coverage: Immediate provision of adequate security for schools, residential quarters, and teachers deployed across high-risk areas in Samburu County.
Threatened Industrial Action and Disruption
The unions emphasized that if safety measures and legal actions are not taken promptly, teachers will be evacuated from vulnerable zones and street demonstrations organized:
“The union will be forced to immediately withdraw all teachers in high-risk areas in the county until security is guaranteed. We will also organise protests and petitions to the county headquarters.”
The strike threat coincides with the reopening of schools for Term Three, raising concerns over potential academic disruptions for learners across Samburu County if the security grievances remain unaddressed.
