The appointment of Internal Security Minister is welcome, although it should have been made much earlier.
Kenya is facing some of its biggest national security challenges in a long time, and the lack of a substantive replacement for the late George Saitoti probably sent the wrong message to criminal elements – that the Government was indecisive when it comes to national security.
However, we must not lose sight of the fact that the silence of the Government, specifically the Executive on an even more grave matter, is very loud.
The wave of strikes that have crippled learning in public schools cannot be wished away.
A decision by the Cabinet yesterday to back the combative and arrogant stand of the Finance and Education ministers does not bode well for the stability of the education sector. As we said before, this matter required tactful handling, which has been missing from Day One.
The dismissive stand of the Finance minister can only be justified by the fact that he knows he has the backing of the Executive. It is because of such insulting behaviour that the strike has become worse.
It is also highly doubtful that the teachers’ unions would have refused to listen to a better offer from the Government. The real problem lies in the fact that the Government has been stalling with no intention of meeting teachers half way.
Strike negotiations are always about compromise, but the offer floated by the Government is an insult to teachers who toil to ensure Free Primary Education succeeds. 
