By Augustine Oduor
Teachers remained defiant and vowed they will not resume work until their demands for a hefty pay rise of 300 percent is met.
The teachers too had harsh words for the ministry of Education which they accused of playing ping-pong games.
Learning in public schools countrywide was disrupted as teachers’ strike entered the second day and a section of parents withdrew pupils as able ones hire teachers for private tuition.
The Kenya National Union of Teachers (Knut) urged teachers to stay away from class and asked them to ignore a court order outlawing the strike.
Knut chairman Wilson Sossion asked teachers to up the tempo of the strike, which began Monday.
“Teachers will not take any orders from government because they are on strike,” Sossion said at Silvers Springs Hotel in Nairobi during a press conference. He was accompanied by fellow unionists.
The teachers took a swipe at Education minister mutual Kilonzo arguing his threats and claims that the industrial action was politically instigated was far-fetched and ill advised.
“Teachers are not politically aligned. Neither are they ethnically allied. We are a trade union that works with the government of the day. It is mischievous for Mutula to link the strike to politics,” Sossion said at a press conference in Nairobi.
“We have written to minister Mutula to apologise over his remarks or we will demand he quits the docket. If he cannot withdraw his ill words we will pile pressure on him.” Sossion said.
“Mutula should know Ministry of Education is not a courtroom for theatrics. TSC can no longer receive instructions from anybody unless he wants to cause chaos in the sector?” Sossion added.
