State to pay teachers Sh13.5 billion
Teachers in a protest march on Harambee Avenue, Nairobi on the first day of their strike called to demand more pay September 3, 2012. Photo/FILE
What you need to know:
- Govt to pay Sh13.5 billion to teachers
Teachers strike is set to end on Monday following the ratification of an agreement signed on Sunday between Finance minister Njeru Githae and top Kenya National Union of Teachers (Knut) officials.
According to Mr Githae, Sh13.5 billion will be paid in a lump sum as opposed to phases, which was proposed last Friday.
The agreement further proposed for the harmonisation of teachers’ salaries in line with those of the civil servants that were approved in July 2012.
“Teachers’ salaries will be realigned with that of civil servants backdated from July 1 and it will reflect on their October pay slips. It will be paid once so the issue of phases has been resolved between the government and Knut,” said Mr Githae.
With the new Sh13.5 billion offers, the highest paid teacher in group R will earn Sh142,000 while the lowest paid teacher will take home Sh19,000 up from Sh13,000.
The rather relieved Githae said that he was glad that the three week nightmare had come to an end.
“Everybody was affected by the strike. Students, parents and teachers were all affected. At least we can get eight hours of sleep now after signing this agreement,” he said.
However, Knut National chairman, Wilson Sossion, said the proposal by the government will be tabled to the teachers union’s National Executive Council (NEC) for a decision on ending the strike, which would have been in its fourth week from Monday.
On Saturday, teachers rejected a government offer of Sh13.5bn payable in three phases starting next month.
Last Friday, the teachers and government failed to agree on how to implement the deal after day-long talks at Parliament and the Treasury.
