Activists threaten mass action over teachers strike

Activists from Nairobi will on Tuesday take to the streets to protest last week’s closure of schools by the government.

Speaking on Sunday at Uhuru Park’s Freedom Corner, they said it will be the beginning of a weeklong series of demonstrations.

They chanted: “Pay our teachers, open our schools, and occupy Harambee Avenue,” to express displeasure after Ministry of Education last Friday ordered all schools to close by Monday September 21.

They claimed government erred by closing schools as it went against children’s right to education as stipulated by the Constitution.

“We want to press the government to pay teachers instead of disobeying a court order,” said one of the activists.

The protest dubbed Week Of Rage could be one of the various protests against the government expected this week after the Opposition obtained permission to hold a demonstration in Nairobi on Wednesday in support of the teachers who went on strike over three weeks ago.

“A government that disobeys court orders should be disobeyed because the judicial authority is derived from the people,” read one of the placards carried by the activists while another placard read, “Court Ordered government to Pay Teachers Not to Close Schools.”

The government has been under fire over the last few weeks after it announced it could not pay teachers because it ‘lacked money’ with workers union, Cotu, vowing to join with the teachers in the strike.

Monday’s march will start from the Tom Mboya Monument along Moi Avenue and is expected to draw a large crowd given the gravity of the matter.