Education CS faulted over teachers’ pay order

Education Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i is headed for a showdown with the Teachers Service Commission over tutors’ September salaries.

This is after a senior official at the commission accused Dr Matiang’i of interfering with the TSC’s independence by directing that it pays teachers the September salaries.

According to the official, the CS has no mandate to order the commission to pay teachers, as the matter is still pending in court.

“His directive was like a roadside declaration, he has no mandate to order an independent commission to do its work. We cannot pay teachers the September salaries as the matter is still pending at the Court of Appeal,” said the official.

He noted that Mr Matiang’i’s move amounted to conflict of interest, given that his brother, Mr John Matiang’i, is acting Knut national treasurer.

On Sunday, Dr Matiang’i promised teachers their salaries, which TSC has been reluctant to release, on grounds that they did not work during the five-week strike.

SALARIES PROMISE

On Monday, the Cabinet secretary held a meeting with the union leaders and promised that the teachers would be paid their September salaries.

The four hour-meeting at Jogoo House was attended by top Knut and Kuppet officials.

Sources in the meeting told the Nation it was agreed that the Ministry of Labour appoints an independent conciliator to spearhead talks on a new Collective Bargaining Agreement as TSC commissioners cannot be trusted.

Dr Matiang’i also agreed to have the unions dues, which have not been deducted by the commission, remitted to the unions.

Once a conciliator has been appointed, talks will have to be concluded in 90 days.

TSC is also required to withdraw validation of union membership, which is expected to end on February 28 next year.

Kuppet chairman Omboko Milemba welcomed Dr Matiang’i’s intervention, saying it would bring harmony in the education sector.

“We want to start working and stop sideshows that have characterised the education sector for a year now,” said Mr Milemba.

He said the good working relationship is aimed at ensuring the implementation of the laptop project and other education policies that are still pending.

He warned that teachers were losing patience with the commission and could soon start the process of collecting one million signatures to remove the commissioners.

MISSED SEPTMBER SALARIES

More than 245,000 teachers missed their salaries after their employer released payment for only 42,973 teachers who were in school during the strike period.

Those who were paid September salaries were principals, their deputies and heads of department as they were in school during the duration of the strike.

On November 11, President Kenyatta asked TSC to consider paying the teachers their salaries. He also directed that teachers who worked during the striking period be compensated for their extraneous work.

Last week, a meeting between the two unions failed to take off after the officials insisted that September salaries be paid before any negotiations on a new CBA could start.

However, some senior managers at the commission have expressed their reservation over the new CBA, saying it would be difficult to achieve one without factoring in the salary component.

Instead, they accused the Presidents’ adviser of not giving him the right information.

In June, the Labour court awarded teachers a 50-60 per cent salary increase but this was overturned by the Court of Appeal on November 6.