No turning back on strike, vow teachers

Teachers have vowed to stay put until the government gives them a pay rise even as their strike enters the second week.

Both the Kenya Union of Post Primary Education (Kuppet) and Kenya National Union of Teachers (Knut) urged their members to keep off work until their basic salaries are increased.

“We want to ensure total paralysis of the education sector,” said Kuppet Secretary-General Akelo Misori.

“We are going into a critical week when the government is likely to use all tricks, including intimidating teachers, but that will not work,” said Mr Misori in Nairobi yesterday.

PRIVATE SCHOOLS

Mr Misori, who was flanked by Kuppet Chairman Omboko Milemba wants private schools to join the strike as well.

“We want a total paralysis of the entire education system,” he said, adding that only the union officials will decide on the fate of the strike
He asked politicians to keep off the strike, accusing them of using it to seek political mileage.

Mr Misori hit out at National Assembly Majority Leader Aden Duale over his remarks that education should be devolved.

“Devolving the sector will not solve problems, it’s the strikes that will have been devolved because even then, we will still insist on better terms,” said Mr Misori.

His Knut counterpart, Mr Wilson Sossion held the same views, saying teachers are free to engage in demonstration and picketing as provided for in the Constitution.

Meanwhile, Balambala MP Abdikadir Aden wants the government to pay teachers and end the standoff.

TEACHERS' DEMANDS

“There is so much money being stolen from the economy through corruption. Let the government use some of this money to meet teachers’ demands,” he said.

“Our teachers offer critical services and should therefore be treated with respect and their demands given the attention they deserve.”

Cotu Secretary-General Francis Atwoli claimed the government has money and urged it to give teachers a better offer so that schools can be reopened.