Pay rise demand by doctors and teachers receive public support
What you need to know:
- A brief poll of 1,669 adults found that 78 per cent of Kenyans think teachers’ demand for improved salaries is justified.
- More than 80 per cent of the respondents said demands for salary reviews by doctors, nurses and clinical workers were reasonable and should be considered.
The majority of Kenyans believe that teachers and health workers should be paid better to guarantee quality services to the public, the survey has shown.
A brief poll of 1,669 adults found that 78 per cent of Kenyans think teachers’ demand for improved salaries is justified.
More than 80 per cent of the respondents said demands for salary reviews by doctors, nurses and clinical workers were reasonable and should be considered.
“It seems that Kenyans believe that they can only receive better services in education and health if the welfare of the service providers therein is improved,” said Mr Victor Rateng, an opinion poll manager at Ipsos, the company that conducted the survey.
Researchers conducted mobile phone interviews with Kenyans aged above 18 in both urban and rural areas.
The study was done as teachers threatened to go on strike and disrupt national examinations, which begin on Tuesday.
A meeting between union leaders and the Teachers Service Commission on Tuesday achieved a deal that put off the planned nationwide strike to allow the parties to consult further.
Last month, Kenyatta National Hospital doctors pursuing post-graduate studies went on strike until the Health ministry agreed to take over payment of their salaries from City Hall.
Some nurses in Uasin Gishu also boycotted work recently, demanding that they be given a pay rise and permanent contracts.
The Ipsos poll found that more respondents who supported Cord agreed with the salary demands compared to Jubilee’s supporters.
For instance, 83 per cent of Cord supporters backed the demand by teachers while 74 per cent of Jubilee supporters thought the same.
