Teachers Service Commission has no right to withhold teachers’ pay, union claims

By STANDARD TEAM

KENYA: Officials of the Kenya National Union of Teachers in Uasin Gishu have faulted the Teachers Service Commission for withholding June salaries.

Union officials accused TSC of violating labour laws terming withholding of salaries illegal.

Knut Executive Secretary Wareng District John Boor said teachers worked for more than 19 days for the month of June and therefore should be paid their dues.

“The law states that anyone who works for more than 19 days should be paid. Therefore, TSC is withholding salaries to intimidate teachers to go back to class,” said Mr Boor.

He doubted if TSC would be in a position to manage a workforce of more than 200,000 employees while disbursing funds for members of the Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers.

“I do not know how they will manage the payroll of more than 200,000 employees because it might prove difficult for TSC to manage payrolls for both members of Knut and Kuppet while disbursing funds,” he said.

He said more than 100 Kuppet members had decamped to Knut in the county causing a major division between the two unions.

Sammy Bor, Knut branch Executive-Secretary Uasin Gishu said they will not stop at anything until the Government meets their demands.

In Migori, teachers withdrew demonstrations from streets to enter villages where they have intensified crackdowns on private schools continuing with learning.

The teachers vowed to continue with the crackdowns until the Government gives in to their demands.

On Wednesday, more than 500 demonstrating teachers in Rongo terrorised schools that had not obeyed their warning to stop learning programes.

The teachers stormed private schools in Rongo District and flushed teachers out before sending children home.

Disturb learning

Physical confrontations were witnessed in some schools after teachers who were being invaded tried to protest. However, no cases of casualties were reported.

Rongo OCPD Catherine Irungu said police will ensure private schools are manned to avoid invasion by striking teachers. “We will ensure no one enters into private schools to disturb learning in the institutions,” Ms Irungu said.

And in Kiambu, parents on Thursday took to the streets in protest to demand the striking teachers resume work. The parents from different public schools mocked a court where they prosecuted and jailed Knut chairman Wilson Sossion for failing to honour a court order requiring him to call off the strike.

The protesters said they were angered that teachers have remained adamant despite the court order and President Uhuru Kenyatta’s personal plea they resume work.

Waving placards, twigs and chanting anti-teachers strike slogans, the parents matched to the County’s Education Director Office.

Reports by Faith Ronoh, Stanley Ongwae and Eric Wainaina