Knut officials face contempt charges
Kenya National Union of Teachers (Knut) national chairman Wilson Sossion and his assistant secretary general Mr Mudzo Nzili risk jail terms after an application by the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) to press for contempt charges was approved by the Industrial Court.
The Knut officials could be imprisoned for defying a court order directing the union to call off the teachers' strike. Read (Hope as Knut, ministry inch towards pay deal)
Industrial Court Judge Monica Mbaru on Monday allowed an application by TSC which had sought to file contempt of court proceedings against the two officials.
TSC through senior state counsel Allan Situma told the court that the two officials had made all indications that they do not wish to comply with the orders stopping the strike, thus prompting the application be filed before court.
“I am satisfied that the accused are all, as individuals aware of the court orders and have failed to act as directed,” said Lady Justice Mbaru.
She directed TSC to commence contempt proceedings to commit the two to civil jail and directed that the matter be mentioned before Lady Justice Linet Ndolo on Tuesday for further directions.
Lady Justice Ndolo had issued orders on July 1, 2013 directing both Knut and Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (Kuppet) to call off the teachers' strike and give dialogue with the government a chance.
She had directed that all the teachers on strike to resume duties on July 2, 2013 by 8am.
However, Knut has failed to call off the strike and TSC accused the officials of calling on teachers to continue with the strike that began last month and in the process paralysing learning in public schools. Read (Union offered new deal under SRC rules)
Knut is demanding that the government implements legal notice 534 of 1997 which had provided for different allowances for their members while Kuppet is demanding that commuter, leave and responsibility allowances for teachers be levelled to those of other public servants.
