TSC ordered to pay Mandera teachers
What you need to know:
- Judge grants orders in an application filed by the affected teachers.
- Teachers argued they had been removed from the payroll.
The teachers’ employer has been directed to release the salaries of staff who allegedly defied a directive to resume classes in northern Kenya.
Justice Nduma Nderi of the Employment and Labour Relations Court granted the orders on Friday afternoon in an application filed by the affected teachers.
Through their lawyer, Sigei Kiprotich Hilary, the teachers argued that TSC had removed them from its payroll and withdrawn the benefits attached to their employment, including house and other allowances.
Mr Sigei told the court that TSC’s action had compounded their suffering and continues to endanger the livelihoods of the teachers and their dependants.
Justice Nderi certified the application as urgent and directed TSC to reinstate the teachers to its payroll and remit salaries for February and subsequent months, pending the determination of the application.
“TSC is restrained from withholding or withdrawing any of the benefits attached to the said teachers’ employment, in particular, their salaries, house and other allowances, pending the hearing and determination of this application inter parties,” he said.
The aggrieved teachers work in Wajir, Mandera, Garissa and Kapedo in Baringo County.
In their application, the more than 1,000 teachers have stated that the areas where they work are prone to sporadic terror attacks that have rendered them unsafe.
TSC was directed to file its response within the next two weeks.
The case will be heard on May 5.
RECRUIT TEACHERS
At the same time, a showdown looms in the Senate over a decision by the Mandera County Government to recruit 260 teachers due to shortage occasioned by persistent insecurity.
Senators have in the past accused governors of using public funds on projects that are the preserve of the national government.
Mandera County Executive for Education Johora Mohamed Abdi told the Senate Committee on Devolved Government that learners were suffering after teachers from outside the county boycotted work.
She said the teachers had failed to report to work since schools opened for first term, despite assurances that security has been intensified in schools.
