By AUGUSTINE ODUOR
Teachers have threatened a nationwide strike if the Government fails to allocate Sh348 billion to cater for their salary review proposals and pending allowances.
In a terse statement to the Government, the Kenya National Union of Teachers Secretary General Okuta Osiany said all allowances negotiated and agreed by the Government must be fully factored in the Budget.
He said the union will not relent to advise its members on the next course of action if Finance minister Njeru Githae fails to make budgetary allocation.
Osiany said the funds would go towards house allowances, commuter allowances, hardship allowances, special allowance and responsibility allowances. “Teachers’ allowances have been pending for the last 15 years and we now demand full payment factored in the next financial year,” he said.
He also said the union is demanding for salary increment for all teachers in the wake of the high cost of living, and the completion of full implementation of teachers’ allowances as indicated in Legal Notice number 534. Knut national chairman Wilson Sossion said the teachers want a salary increment of about 300 per cent effected starting July.
This means that the Government will remit some Sh194 billion in addition to the current Sh64 billion, to cater for the projected salary raise.
In total, if the demand is implemented, the Government will release some Sh102 billion in addition to the current Sh52 billion towards teachers’ allowances alone.
