House committee wants Githu fired over Sh16.7bn teachers’ dues

A House committee is pushing for the sacking of Attorney-General Githu Muigai after he failed to appear before it to explain why Sh16.7 billion owed to retired teachers had not been effected by the government four years after the Court of Appeal gave its nod.

Members of the National Assembly’s Education Committee accused the AG of treating the matter lightly by failing to appear before them twice over the past two weeks.

The committee said the ex-teachers were suffering because they were getting little pension. The MPs want the AG relieved of his duties for not representing the government as required.

The committee has been handling the dispute after the pensioners sought their help following the government’s failure to honour a court directive that they be paid the billions owed to them.

AG IS A HURDLE
The AG was expected to appear before the committee on Wednesday at Continental House, Nairobi, but failed. He also did not present himself to the committee two weeks ago.

“The AG is an impediment to this matter. He is playing hide and seek and it appears he has no heart for the old and frail retired teachers. His office needs total overhaul,” said Committee chairman Julius Melly.

The dispute emanates from a Court of Appeal ruling in November 2010 that agreed with the High Court’s earlier judgment that the retired teachers be paid Sh16.7 billion in pension arrears.

The teachers wanted the pension be based on a salary increment pat deal reached between the government and KNUT in 1997.

The government has already appealed to the Supreme Court and now awaits a hearing date on the matter.

They also blamed him for taking sides by contesting a court ruling instead of honouring it in order to help improve the welfare of teachers.

“The reason we want the AG to appear before us is because he is the chief legal adviser to the government, said Vihiga MP Yusuf Chanzu.