Kidero calls for solution on teachers strike even as TSC withholds pay

Just a day after the Employment and Labour Relations Court upheld its decision directing teachers to return to work immediately, Nairobi Governor Dr. Evans Kidero has called on the government to find a lasting solution to the perennial teachers’ strikes that have affected learning in public schools.

Speaking at his City Hall office when he received standard eight pupils from Loreto Convent Msongari Primary School, the Governor said the national government, Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT), the Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) and the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) should negotiate on the way forward on the ongoing teachers’ strike that is now in its fifth week.

Kidero outlined the need for the opposing factions to have a sit down and address the issues surrounding the teachers’ pay rise for the good of the Kenyan children and the future of the education sector.

The city Governor said his government is committed to mentorship of young girls, which is a key ingredient to ensuring that young girls remain focused on achieving their life goals and reaching them.

The students were led by their students’ president, Sylvia Gworit and the deputy president, Wambui Gitahi.

On Thursday, the Employment and Labour Relations Court Judge Nelson Abuodha said the ongoing petition at the Court of Appeal filed by TSC challenging the 50 – 60% pay rise could not be used by teachers to defy the return to work order and urged them to honour his ruling since they would require the court’s protection at a later date.

Abuodha ruled that though the teachers’ strike was protected by the law, it remained suspended for 90 days to facilitate a conciliation process between the teachers and their employer on how the pay hike would be implemented.

Even as the court battles go on, about 230,000 teachers will miss their September salary as TSC cracks the whip over the ongoing strike. Documents seen by Citizen TV show that only 43,000 teachers will be paid as the rest defied a court order to resume duty.

The government resolved to withhold salaries and allowances of more than 230,000 teachers, who the commission says defied the Employment and Labour Relations Court’s order to resume duty.

TSC, according to documents, finalized the September payroll Thursday and the 43,000 teachers who will be paid are mainly head teachers, deputy head teachers and heads of departments who have been in schools during the month long boycott by teachers who are pushing the government to implement the 50-60% pay hike awarded in June this year by Judge Nduma Nderi of the Employment and Labour Relations Court.

On Wednesday, the government announced vacancies for 70,000 teachers after KNUT and KUPPET defied a court order to call off the four-week old strike.

In a letter, the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) said it was “advertising 70,000 posts of relief teachers (50,000 Primary and 20,000 Secondary) for a period of three (3) months to alleviate the effects of the current teacher shortage in the country.”

“The teachers will be hired on a three month contract and will thereafter be considered on priority basis for employment on permanent terms when vacancies arise,” read the letter.

TSC has also gone against the Employment and Labour Relations Court ruling that suspended the teachers’ strike and ordered it (TSC) not to victimize any teacher.

The Labour Court also directed TSC and the Ministry of Labour to appoint an independent conciliator to help in settling the pay dispute.

Francis Gachuri contributed to this report