Private schools seek court relief as clerics call for dialogue to end strike

Protests have greeted the decision by the Education Ministry to shorten third term and close schools indefinitely.

Retired President Daniel arap Moi yesterday said private schools would continue to operate in defiance of the government order.

Mr Moi, who owns several schools, also criticised teachers’ unions which called the strike, now in its 20th day, saying they should have been more open to dialogue.

“The children of Kenya do not deserve such heartless treatment and it is time stakeholders and leaders came together to seek a lasting solution,” he said at Kabarak Chapel.

In Embu, John Cardinal Njue said he was shocked by the government’s decision to close schools.

“As leaders, we met the President and there was no talk of closing schools,” Cardinal Njue said during the 29th diocesan anniversary of Karurina Cathedral in Embu Town.

He said there was something sinister about the strike and called on the government to address the issue that has haunted the education sector for years.

“Is higher pay the motive of this strike or could there be a hidden agenda?” he asked and appealed to teachers to go back to school. Cardinal Njue challenged parties involved to settle the dispute amicably.

In Nairobi, Kenya Union of Post Primary Teachers officials held prayers at the All Saints Cathedral and urged religious leaders to help end the impasse.

“The heavy heart of the government can only be moved by the Church and we ask Archbishop Eliud Wabukala to help us,” Kuppet Chairman Omboko Milemba said.

Today, private school owners are expected to go to court to challenge the order by Education Cabinet Secretary Jacob Kaimenyi to close schools and forward the fees paid to next term.

Last Friday, Prof Kaimenyi said the government had revised term dates. As a result, the third term ends today.

Yesterday, Kenya Private Schools Association CEO Peter Ndoro said attempts by its officials to seek audience with Prof Kaimenyi had failed.

“We have been making several attempts to meet the Cabinet secretary but have not been successful. That is why we will be going to court to be allowed to go on with teaching,” he told the Nation.

Private schools account for about two million of the 14 million learners, with about 180,000 being in secondary schools.

The Kenya Publishers Association is also expected to raise the question of the strike among other issues at a press conference in Nairobi this morning.

The publishers are concerned that suspending learning would be bad for the education sector.

KPA Chairman David Waweru said the closure of schools had come at a critical time in the academic calendar and was likely to have a negative long-term effects on education and the economy.

In Nakuru, religious leaders asked the government to enter into dialogue with teachers and resolve the stalemate.

Bishop Geoffrey Buliba of Christian Brotherhood Church said the government should agree to talk to teachers instead of closing schools.

Fr David Kapsoi also asked the Church to arbitrate in the standoff.

“The clergy, TSC and the cabinet secretary should convene an urgent round table meeting to discuss the matter. We cannot sit and watch as our children’s education is paralysed,” he said during Mass at St Monica Catholic Church.

Embu Woman Representative Rose Mitaru said the opposition had hijacked the dialogue between teachers and their employer for selfish interests.

The MP, who is a member of the parliamentary education committee, also asked the opposition to stop threatening the President with impeachment.

Political leaders in the Rift Valley condemned the closure of schools.

Baringo Senator Gideon Moi, his Narok counterpart Stephen ole Ntutu and Bomet Governor Isaac Ruto said the government made a mistake.

“Employees have rights. It is the duty ofthe government to ensure those rights are respected,” Mr Ruto said.

“The government has money. Let them not cheat us that they can’t pay,” Emurrua Dikirr MP Johanna Ngeno said.

Kisii Governor James Ongwae also asked the Government to pay the 288,060 striking teachers.

“My opinion is that the lawmakers can sit down and provide remedy to the problem,” he said during a meeting with Knut and Kuppet county officials in his office.

In Mombasa, county government officials said children will be given informal training starting from Monday next week despite the strike and the closure of schools.

The programme will see over 74,000 children enrolled in private schools and another 84,000 children in public schools trained in entrepreneurship, performing arts and maritime sports among other skills.

In Nyeri, private schools have vowed to defy the directive to close down all schools by today.

The KPSA Nyeri chapter officials yesterday said they did not see any reason to close their institutions.

By Wanjiru Macharia, Charles Wanyoro, Ouma Wanzala, Eric Matara, Ruth Mbula Elisha Otieno, Magati Obebo, Rebecca Okwany, James Ngunjiri and Boniface Mwangi