Court halts recruitment of 70,000 teachers KNUT, KUPPET fight on

The Employment and Labour Relations Court has temporarily stopped the hiring of 70,000 teachers by the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) after the Trade Union Congress Kenya (TUC-K) filed a case challenging the move.

Through a certificate of urgency application, TUC-K through their advocate Wilfred Nyamu, contested the decision by TSC to recruit the teachers saying the act is meant to mitigate against the current dispute between teachers and the TSC.

According to TUC-K, the act is a threat and violation of teachers’ fundamental rights to go on strike and to reasonable working conditions.

TUC-K noted that the TSC is yet to address the teachers’ demands.

Justice Nduma Nderi of the Employment and Labour Relations Court issued the orders on condition that the teachers go back to class as directed by Justice Nelson Abuodha.

Justice Nderi said that if the teachers do not go back to class by Monday, October 12th when the case will be mentioned, the temporary orders on recruiting teachers stand a chance of being lifted.

The TSC had on Thursday announced that it was going to hire teachers on a three month contract basis following the five week long teachers strike.

TSC intended to recruit 50,000 primary and 20,000 secondary school teachers.

Among the requirements for teachers include P1 certificate holders for those seeking jobs in primary schools and at least a diploma for secondary schools.

Interested applicants must also be registered teachers and under 45 years.

In a further blow to teachers, the government withheld the September salaries of more than 230,000 teachers in public schools for the month of September following what it said was the teachers’ failure to obey a court order suspending the month-long strike.

Only 43,000 teachers who have been on duty will receive their September salaries and allowances.

Teachers stayed away from classrooms even after the Court suspended the strike for 90 days.

The Labour Court said that despite the strike being legal, it stands suspended for 90 days until the dispute surrounding their pay rise is resolved.

The Court further warned the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) from victimizing any teacher and pay them their salaries for the month of September which they have been on strike.

Teacher’s downed their tools at the beginning of September over the pay dispute paralyzing learning activities in all public schools across the country.