You are selfish, Kaimenyi tells striking teachers

Education Cabinet Secretary Prof. Jacob Kaimenyi has accused teachers’ unions leaders of being selfish and holding parents and students hostage while disregarding their rights.

Kaimenyi accused the Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) and the Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) of advancing their agenda with utter disregard of the law and without respecting the rule of law.

The CS, made the statement targeting KNUT and KUPPET amid the ongoing teachers’ strike over a pay increment dispute pitting them against the government.

The CS said teachers have a right to make demands but says that right is not absolute.

This comes as teachers unions and the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) return to the Court of Appeal on Monday over the appeal filed by TSC opposing the 50 to 60 percent pay rise awarded to teachers by the Employment and the Labour Relations Court in June.

On Thursday, the TSC argued that Justice Nduma Nderi of the Employment and Labour Relations Court issued a pay hike order for teachers without considering the constitutional function of the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC).

SRC lawyer Pheroze Nowrojee told the 5-judge bench that the Labour Court had usurped its mandate by purporting to award the 50-60% pay hike.

On Thursday, the government announced that it was recruiting 70,000 teachers after teachers stayed away from classrooms even after the Court suspended the strike for 90 days.

The Court of Appeal 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.

In the ruling, Justice Nelson Abuodha ordered TSC and the Labour Cabinet Secretary to appoint an independent conciliator in 30 days to resolve the teachers’ salary increment dispute.

The Judge said that after 90 days, any party would be free to raise issues.

In his ruling, Justice Abuodha said the ongoing teachers’ strike is legal and declined to issue orders prohibiting it.

The suspension of the teachers’ strike came as a relief for many students and parents.

The teachers’ strike has been ongoing for five weeks, with various organizations calling on the government to give the teachers their pay increment.

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

President Uhuru Kenyatta  had during a televised address said Kenyans would have to dig deeper into their pockets through higher taxes if government is to implement the 50 to 60 percent pay increase for teachers.

President Kenyatta said the government cannot afford the pay rise, terming it unsustainable.

President Kenyatta said the current wage bill is already too high and such a salary increase for the striking teachers would further strain the economy.

President Kenyatta’s statement was a blow to the teachers who are seeking a salary increment.