Over 240,000 teachers miss September pay

Over 245,000 teachers will miss their September salaries after their employer released the payroll showing that only 42,973 would be paid.

The Teachers Service Commission took the drastic step as the Court of Appeal on Thursday ordered teachers to return to work immediately.

Most of the teachers who will get their full pay are principals, their deputies and heads of department who were in schools for the duration of the strike that started a month ago.

According to sources in the Teachers Service Commission, about 26,000 teachers in secondary schools have been paid, as have 9,000 primary school headteachers.

All teachers in technical institutes, teacher training colleges and special institutions have also been fully paid.

“The teachers would have been on the payroll after the Friday ruling when they were directed to report to duty, but they did not,” the source, who could not be named as he is not authorised to speak to the media, said.

NO SALARY
In some national schools like Alliance High and Kenya High, all teachers have been paid because they were on duty until Education Cabinet Secretary Jacob Kaimenyi closed schools officially.

According to the TSC code of conduct “in the event of strike, the administrative staff of schools should be in school to ensure safety of learners and school property. These include headteachers, their deputies and registrar.”

On Thursday, there were speculations on social media that some teachers were paid and others left out.

The commission’s head of communication, Mr Kihumba Kamotho, said: “It is true the payroll was run. As you are aware payroll information involves employees’ salaries, which cannot be discussed in the media.”

Ordinarily, the commission completes the payroll on the 23rd day of every month so teachers can receive their salaries by the 30th day.

Last month, it delayed running the payroll as it had been asked by Labour Court Judge Nelson Abuodha not to victimise the teachers for striking.

Some teachers who had checked their payslips online told the Nation that they were reading nil.

EXAMS AFFECTED
Teachers in public schools have been on strike since September 2, a day after schools opened for the third term. They refused to go back to work even after Prof Kaimenyi officially reopened schools on September 28.

They said they would only return after mediation.

The strike has affected the administration of national examinations, especially KCSE, which started this week.

Form Four candidates have been in schools studying for their examinations but all other secondary students remain at home.

On Thursday, TSC advertised vacancies for 70,000 relief teachers. The commission said it intended to recruit 50,000 primary and 20,000 secondary school teachers on a three-month contract.

Meanwhile, the striking teachers, on Thursday, received support from their counterparts across the globe who have urged the government to implement the salary increase.

Two organisations, Education International and the Danish Union of Teachers, expressed their solidarity with the Kenyan teachers, saying that they deserved pay rise.

RESPECT TEACHERS' RIGHTS
In a letter to President Uhuru Kenyatta dated September 28, Education International asked him to implement the court decision confirming the pay rise.

It also urged him to engage in meaningful dialogue with the teachers and meet their legitimate demands for decent wages and better living conditions.

“Respect the fundamental rights and freedoms of teachers in accordance with international standards related to collective bargaining,” the Secretary-General Fred van Leeuwen, in his letter to the President, said.

He also asked the government to refrain from threatening teachers because of their appeal for a fair salary increase.

“I trust that your government will act swiftly to address the demands of teachers in Kenya, so that they can resume their duties without any victimisation. This will enable the pupils and students to continue with their education without further interruption,” the letter indicated.

The Danish Union of Teachers, said the government must respect the court decision.

The union said it supported the struggle of Kenyan teachers to have their rightly deserved pay rise and expressed concerns over closure of schools due to the strike.

Additional reporting by Ouma Wanzala