It’s all-out battle as teachers’ pay frozen

• We won’t be cowed: Knut fury over TSC strong-arm tactics to break classes boycott

The teachers’ union on Monday dismissed as “an act of cheap intimidation” the government’s attempt to squeeze its striking members back into the classroom by withholding their salaries and kicking them out of school housing.

The Kenya National Union of Teachers argued that teachers were owed their salaries since they had worked part of the month.

“Withdrawing salaries for the teachers is not the issue since teachers had already worked for some days of the month and should be paid,” Knut secretary-general Lawrence Majali said.

The union’s protest followed an announcement by the Teachers Service Commission that it was withholding the salaries of all primary school teachers, pending a verification of who is working and who is on strike.

Terminated contract

The commission also hinted at mass sacking of striking teachers, warning: “Take notice that all teachers who do not resume duty immediately will be deemed to have terminated their contract of service with the Teachers Service Commission.”

Perhaps to send a signal to the strikers that their places may be filled, the commission asked unemployed and qualified teachers to register with zonal educational offices closest to them.

Those who retired within the past seven years and are interested to work on contract terms were also asked to register with the education offices.

Unemployed secondary school teachers should give details about their teaching subjects before February 2, said the commission.

But teachers appeared unmoved by the threat. Mr Apollo Odero, 40, a teacher in Kisumu East District said there aren’t enough retirees to replace teachers.

“Will parents and pupils accept retirees in schools? And how many retirees will be willing to return to service after having worked in the same system?” he wondered.

On Monday, the TSC said teachers in secondary schools and colleges, who have not been on strike, will be paid.

Mr Gabriel Lengoiboni, the TSC boss, said the commission was within the law in refusing to pay teachers for the period during which they did not work.

The TSC decision is likely to escalate the confrontation between the government and the teachers, who have defied calls by the Cabinet to call off the strike.

Sacking or eviction