Teachers’ strike on, vow Knut officials

Teaching union officials declared on Sunday they were prepared to go ahead with a nationwide strike slated to begin on Tuesday when the notice issued by their union expires.

The strike will be preceded by a meeting of the National Executive Committee of the Kenya National Union of Teachers in Nairobi, where they are expected to formally announce the strike.

The industrial action, considered by some too drastic and untimely, has been precipitated by the decision by Parliament’s Budget Committee to reverse a decision that would have had more teachers employed.( READ: Teachers issue seven-day strike notice)

Teachers are understood to be planning a series of demonstrations across the country to protest against the decision endorsed by Parliament last Tuesday.

Union officials in Mombasa advised parents not to send their children to boarding schools until advised otherwise by the Kenya National Union of Teachers.

The Mombasa and Kilindini executive secretaries asked their 3,000 members to brace themselves for action.

“We call upon our members to be ready for battle because we feel cheated by the government,” they said.

Ahaya Juma Ahaya (Mombasa) and Dan Aloo (Kilindini) warned that unless the government guaranteed the employment of 18,000 teachers on a permanent basis, they would down tools after the expiry of their strike notice.

“Tomorrow (Monday) will be warm-up for a massive strike,” they said.

In Siaya, branch chairman Alex Dunga said the planned demonstrations would be held in Ugenya, Alego/Usonga, Gem and Bondo constituencies.

In Bungoma, officials representing more than 6,850 teachers said the Knut members will not report to school on Tuesday when schools reopen.

Knut officials from six branches in the county said the area has a shortage of 5,218 teachers.

Teso Knut branch executive officer George Okwara said teachers should boycott invigilation of both the KCPE and KCSE examinations.

In Bomet, a Knut official confronted Roads minister Franklin Bett and assistant ministers Beatrice Kones, Magerer Langat and Sotik MP Joyce Laboso at Tenwek Primary School, where they had attended a fund- raiser.

In Kisumu, the chairman of the Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education branch, Mr Zablon Awange, said teachers would not report to work on Tuesday.

Union leaders in Nyeri hoped the strike will compel the government to reverse reallocation of Sh5.5 billion meant to cater for employment on permanent terms of 18,060 teachers.

Meanwhile, Kangundo Knut executive secretary Daniel Nginga said teachers in the area would not report to school on Tuesday. Speaking in Kangundo town, Mr Nginga said primary and secondary school teachers would down tools in protest against the move by MPs to deny TSC cash.

Reported by Mwakera Mwajefa, Charles Mwaniki, George Munene, Kennedy Lumwamu, Eric Oloo, Geoffrey Rono, Dennis Odunga, Henry Andanje, Philemon Suter, Eric Ngobilo and Gastone Valusi.