Knut tells schools to send learners home as union vows push on with strike

The Kenya National Union of Teachers (Knut) on Sunday told headteachers to send students home and hand over their schools to boards of governors as the union leaders vowed to push on with their strike until their pay increment is honoured.

Knut’s National Executive Committee (NEC) spoke as the Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (Kuppet) challenged President Uhuru Kenyatta and his deputy, Mr William Ruto, to step down from office for failing to pay the salaries awarded by the Court of Appeal.

In Kibra, Nairobi, Cord leader Raila Odinga urged the President to negotiate with the teachers on how the government can pay their dues instead of saying that the government has no money.

“Negotiate, but don’t say you can’t pay. If you can’t pay, then go home,” Mr Odinga said at a rally. If all corruption loopholes were sealed, he said, they government could afford to pay teachers.

GOVERNMENT DIGS IN

However, the government continued to dig in, with Mr Ruto asking teachers to return to work today.

Some MPs weighed in, urging National Assembly Speaker Justin Muturi to reconvene the House urgently to debate the strike, which enters its third week today.

However, Mr Muturi said he respects the independence of the Judiciary and that it was the job of the majority and minority leaders to recall Parliament.

Speaking after a NEC meeting in Nairobi, Knut Secretary-General Wilson Sossion and chairman Mudzo Nzili said the strike would go on until the government gives them a pay rise as directed by the court.

They also threatened to take legal action against the Teachers’ Service Commission (TSC) for initiating disciplinary action against 5,000 school heads, their deputies and heads of departments following the industrial action.

TSC \MISLEADING' PRESIDENT

Mr Sossion and Mr Nzili said it was “dangerous” to keep learners in schools alone without teachers and they should, therefore, be sent home immediately.

“No teacher will resume … duty tomorrow (Monday) and we want to ask headteachers to send the students home and hand over the management of school property to boards of governors,” said Mr Sossion.

He said teachers were ready to stay away from class for as long as one year.

“We have asked our members to prepare (for the long strike) and we will stay away from class as long as it takes,” Mr Sossion said.

The two union leaders dismissed claims that the new salaries would inflate the wage bill and slow down economic growth as “rumours and mischief” being perpetrated by top government officials who have personal differences with the Knut leadership.

Mr Sossion accused Education Cabinet Secretary Jacob Kaimenyi and TSC chairman Lydia Nzomo of “misleading” President Kenyatta on the pay issue.

WAGE BILL WORRIES

President Kenyatta on Friday said there was no money to pay the teachers and warned that any increase in their salaries would adversely affect the wage bill and cause agitation for more pay from the rest of the civil service.

Mr Sossion said teachers were demanding Sh1.3 billion per month, which would translate to Sh17 billion annually.

Out of the monthly pay of Sh1.3 billion, the government will be collecting tax of Sh391 million and teachers will only be taking home Sh912 million, he said.

“We want to remind the President, whom we respect a lot, that court orders must be obeyed,” said the Knut secretary-general. “We have gone through a judicial process and we have won through and through. Once courts rule, people must obey.”

Mr Sossion said that teachers have cited the TSC, the Ministry of Education, the National Treasury and the Attorney-General for contempt of court for failing to effect the court award and the case is due for hearing on September 21.

BACK TO SCHOOL

On Tuesday, a Nairobi High Court will also rule on whether teachers should go back to school after Justice Monica Mbaru ruled on September 4 that the strike was not protected in law. The judge had said that the strike had not been properly called.

Yesterday, Mr Nzili accused Prof Kaimenyi of using personal differences that he has with Mr Sossion to frustrate teachers in their quest for higher pay.

In Bomet, Kuppet Secretary-General Akelo Misori asked President Kenyatta and Mr Ruto to step down from office for failing them.

“It is sad to note that the President can openly admit that the country has no money to fund the teachers’ pay rise. That will be contempt of the highest order,” Mr Misori said.