Pay shock for teachers as July salaries slashed

Teachers in public primary schools Thursday got a salary shock after their employer paid them for only 10 days in July.

Teachers with bank loans were the worst hit, with some getting negative balances after the lenders deducted their dues.

“I cannot believe it. How will my son and I even return to my work station?” asked a distraught teacher in Homa Bay County.

Teachers Service Commission (TSC) secretary Gabriel Lengoibon, however, said the payroll was being prepared and may be ready by early next week. 

“It is a complicated assignment because part of it is being done manually to avoid double deduction of statutory payments and double taxation,” Mr Lengoibon said.

Kenya National Union of Teachers (Knut) yesterday urged its members to be patient, saying the outstanding amount would be remitted in due course.

Knut chairman Wilson Sossion said TSC had only paid for 10 days as earlier directed by the Salaries and Remuneration Commission before President Kenyatta met them and ordered the that teachers be paid their full salaries.

“We are asking TSC to immediately release the remaining balance to enable the teaching force to meet their financial needs,” said Mr Sossion.

The continued delay of the pay, he said, had inconvenienced most of the teachers, especially those pursuing school-based study programmes. “As directed by the Head of State, there is a need for the commission to pay the teachers their hard earned salaries without further delays,” he said.

Mr Kenyatta made the promise to Knut officials in a meeting at State House, Nairobi, early in the week.

The President authorised the payment of full salaries — rescinding an earlier decision by Education Cabinet Secretary Jacob Kiamenyi that teachers who went on strike would be paid for only 10 days.

Little in accounts

The teachers who spoke to the Nation said they were shocked to find very little money in their accounts as net pay for July.

Mrs Dorothy Okoth, a teacher at Kisumu Primary School, termed the action by TSC dishonest, adding that they had resorted to continue supporting the leaners despite the disappointment.

“We feel cheated as the government failed to honour its promise; however, since the learners are innocent, we no longer want to subject them to interruption of lessons,” she said.

Reported by Maurice Kaluoch, Moses Odhiambo and Goffrey Rono