News
Teachers in Kisumu takes to the street in a peaceful demonstration on Monday. The teachers defied the governments sack threat. Photo/ DAN OBIERO
In Summary
- Education officials getting details of those involved in industrial action
Teachers on Monday defied State directives and made good their threat to down tools over a salary dispute between their union and the Government.
In Nyanza and Western provinces, a survey revealed that most teachers kept away and those who reported for duty did not go to class.
Knut Nyanza provincial secretary Tom Olilo, who led teachers in a demonstration in Kisumu Town, said threats of sacking by the Government would not deter teachers from demanding better terms of service.
“We are on duty but have taken the classes to the streets,” he said while addressing teachers outside Reinsurance Plaza, which houses the provincial director of education’s office.
The Knut secretary said that teachers in the province were not going to sign attendance forms that were being circulated by the ministry.
In Kakamega, placard-waving teachers, converged at the Kakamega Knut branch offices where they were addressed by union officials, led by the secretary, Mr Amos Ombayo.
The Knut officials vowed that teachers would only return to work after their demands had been fully addressed by the Government.
The Kakamega Central district education officer, Mr Charles Lafte said education officials were visiting schools to get details of teachers who were participating in the strike.
Mr Lafte said he had requested to have security personnel deployed in schools to protect teachers who were ready to work.
In Nyamira District, both Knut and Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (Kuppet) members defied a court order barring the teachers’ strike.
Although some of the teachers reported to school, there was no learning in many institutions as the two union members either staged a sit-in or marched to zonal centres where they were addressed by their officials, leaving pupils unattended.
Most schools in Siaya District remained closed as teachers stayed away, converging instead at the local Knut offices.
Pupils of Siaya Central primary school were seen loitering in town after they were sent home by the school committee.
In Kisii, pupils in most public schools were welcomed by padlocks hanging from their classroom doors.
In primary schools like Kisii, Nyambera, Nyabiuto, and Boronyi, teachers only made technical appearances.
-
I support the teachers 100%, but 1) their strike is ill intended with the current crisis in the country. 2) we have nothing to do with their pay,let them not barricade roads, parents have paid fees, so let pple use roads, The gava is in parliament or DCs offices, pls camp there. Let other kenyans not close shops coz of ur salary
RSS