Jubilee MPs rule out pay for teachers
From left seated; Senate Majority Leader Kithure Kindiki, Elgeyo-Marakwet Senator Kipchumba Murkomen and Starehe MP Maina Kamanda at a Press conference at Parliament Buildings on September 18, 2015. They vowed to shoot down a threatened impeachment Motion against President Uhuru Kenyatta by the Opposition. PHOTO | JEFF ANGOTE | NATION MEDIA GROUP
What you need to know:
- The Cord coalition said it had already started the process of impeaching the President, claiming he is in contempt of court for declaring that the government will not award teachers their pay increase.
- The coalition has also organised public protests and called on teachers and the public to participate in an effort to push the government to act on the strike that has crippled learning in public primary and secondary schools countrywide.
- Prof Kindiki, who was speaking at Parliament Buildings, said that contrary to the assertion that the President was in contempt of court by refusing to pay the teachers, it was the mandate of the TSC to resolve the issue.
Jubilee leaders o Friday insisted that teachers will not get a pay increase despite a court order even as the Opposition threatened to impeach President Uhuru Kenyatta.
Senate Majority Leader Kithure Kindiki said yesterday in a statement on behalf of Jubilee allied MPs that awarding teachers the pay rise at this time would have a snowball effect on other civil servants, the police and prison officers.
“Awarding teachers a salary increase at this time and in the proposed manner will have financial implications.
“The public wage bill is currently 10 per cent of GDP. This is unsustainable for an economy like Kenya’s,” he said.
The Cord coalition said it had already started the process of impeaching the President, claiming he is in contempt of court for declaring that the government will not award teachers their pay increase.
The coalition has also organised public protests and called on teachers and the public to participate in an effort to push the government to act on the strike that has crippled learning in public primary and secondary schools countrywide.
Prof Kindiki described the impeachment Motion as “misguided” and vowed to defeat it.
“Cord is once again displaying its self centred non-constructive approach to a national issue. Anybody harbouring hopes of challenging the Jubilee electoral triumph is day dreaming,” he said.
He added: “The teachers’ strike is a national issue touching on the learning and development of our children. It’s an intricate matter that requires patience and understanding of the economics of this country.”
Although the Teachers Service Commission has appealed against the 50-60 per cent salary increase awarded by the High Court, the government is adamant that whatever the outcome, it cannot pay the new rates due to budgetary constraints.
Prof Kindiki, who was speaking at Parliament Buildings, said that contrary to the assertion that the President was in contempt of court by refusing to pay the teachers, it was the mandate of the TSC to resolve the issue.
“If Cord bothered to read the Constitution, they would know that the Teachers Service Commission in an independent constitutional body and it is not at the office of the President. They will also see that the Salaries and Remuneration Commission determines salaries in the public sector,” said Prof Kindiki.
He said the Salaries and Remuneration Commission and Public Service Commission were looking at ways of managing the ballooning public wage bill.
Prof Kindiki maintained that the government had done everything its power to end the strike.
For the fourth week beginning on Monday, learners in public schools will not be attending classes following the pay standoff which has now ballooned in to a national crisis.
