Teachers to proceed with elections, dismiss cash challenges

Teachers unions have declared that their elections will take place absent any financial challenges, despite the government's failure to deduct monthly dues of about Sh400 million from teachers salaries.

The Kenya National Union of Teachers (Knut) Treasury John Matiang’i and Deputy Secretary-General Hesbond Otieno, who are both seeking re-election, allayed fears that lack of money could jeopardise the December 9 by-elections.

The elections are being done two months before the National General elections, which will take place between February to April 2016.

Mr Matiangi said they had already paid for a venue and prepared ballot papers ahead of their Annual Delegate Conference where the four positions of National Treasurer, Assistant National Treasurer, Deputy Secretary General and Assistant Secretary General will be filled.

The positions fell vacant following retirement of office bearers.

“We have already paid the Kasarani venue, prepared our reports and handed our printed ballot papers to the Labour ministry. All that is left is for the 2,000 delegates to converge,” Mr Matiangi told Sunday Nation on Saturday.

Mr Otieno, speaking during the homecoming party of Kenya Primary Schools Heads Association Chairman Shem Ndolo, said they had implored Education Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiangi to support them.

“We believe that Mr Matiangi is a sober man. If he sits down with us to discuss issues like ranking in schools, salaries, laptop project and the constitutions of schools board of governors, there will be no strikes,” he said.

Mr Collins Oyuu, a National Executive member in charge of Nyanza, has also declared his interest in the position of Assistant Secretary-General.

The unions on Thursday accused the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) of withholding their union fees for the months of September, October and November with an aim of paralyzing their operations.

But TSC Head of Communication Kamotho Kihumba on Saturday denied holding onto union dues for the said months, saying they did not deduct it for reasons well known to Knut and Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (Kuppet).

“It is therefore, insincere for anybody to claim that TSC is withholding any money due to Knut or any other union as none was deducted in the first place,” said Mr Kihumba.