Karua hits out at State for neglecting teachers

Presidential aspirant Martha Karua on Monday hit out at the government for failing to respect civil servants.

Ms Karua pledged to deal honestly with teachers should she be elected President in the next General Election, saying they were among civil servants who had been taken for a ride for long.

“An honest government needs to deal honestly with its people. There is no need of promising things that we cannot do, but instead agree on those we can do,” she said.

She took issue with the government over unpaid arrears owed to retired teachers since they were promised last year.

“I asked a supplementary question in Parliament last year and the minister for Education confirmed that retired teachers would be paid their arrears by Christmas, 2011. We are now approaching Christmas 2012 and they are yet to be paid. That is not honourable,” she said.

Ms Karua was speaking after holding a closed door meeting with Kenya National Union of Teachers executive officials led by their Chairman Wilson Sossion.

Retired teachers, backed by Knut, have been pushing the government to release over Sh101 billion in pensions and unpaid salaries owed to them.

Although the Knut officials left without addressing the media, Ms Karua said it was only a courtesy call, during which they discussed “matters of mutual interest”.

She said the teachers union was not the only professional body Narc-Kenya was reaching out to, to discuss what they can do together for the country.

“I am seeking support from people of all walks of life, but this was not a campaign rally. It was a courtesy call,” she said.

Concerning the gender rule that was suspended from taking effect after the next polls by the Supreme Court, the Gichugu MP said the whole country stands to lose if it will not be effected.

“When you say that the legislation on gender inclusivity will take effect in 2015, you are not helping progressive implementation because you have postponed implementation,” she said.