TSC boss summons extended due to lawyers’ protest
What you need to know:
- TSC boss Nancy Macharia and the director of pensions had been summoned to explain why 52,000 retired teachers have not been paid their Sh42.3 billion pension arrears.
- Justice Janet Mulwa said warrants of arrest would be issued if the two did not appear in court on the day.
A judge has extended a summons for the Teachers Service Commission boss and director of pensions to appear in court on Tuesday due to ongoing protests by lawyers against the killing of a colleague.
TSC boss Nancy Macharia and the director of pensions had been summoned to explain why 52,000 retired teachers have not been paid their Sh42.3 billion pension arrears as ordered by the Supreme Court and the steps they are taking to clear the debt.
Extending the summons to July 25, Justice Janet Mulwa said warrants of arrest would be issued if the two did not appear in court on the day.
Ms Macharia faces a six-month jail term for contempt of orders directing the TSC to liaise with the relevant offices to pay the retired teachers.
The former teachers instituted contempt of court proceedings against the TSC boss early last month.
When she appeared in court on June 16, Ms Macharia said disbursement of part of the cash was at an advanced stage. “Soon, the retirees will be paid Sh3 billion that has been approved by Parliament,” she said.
Her assurance was backed by lawyer Jasper Mbiuki, the secretary of Legislative Affairs and Regulatory Compliance in the Office of the President.
Mr Mbiuki said President Uhuru Kenyatta had directed that a multi-agency committee be set up to fast-track the payment.
The ex-teachers’ lawyer, Mr Dominic Kimatta, has vehemently opposed the deferral of the TSC chief’s jail term, saying the TSC was perpetuating impunity.
This is the second time the TSC boss has escaped committal to a jail term.
Mr Kimatta has said a “cartel” in government was frustrating efforts for the formers teachers to be paid their dues.
