Teachers broke first week of pay, claims Knut

NAIROBI, KENYA: Thousands of teachers get broke barely one week after earning their monthly salaries, a teachers union has said.

Many more cannot even afford decent meals after the 10th day of every month because of the low pay.

Kenya National Union of Teachers (Knut) secretary general Wilson Sossion said many teachers live on debts.

He said  some get evicted out of their rented houses and property attached after failing to settle their monthly bills.

"Some even sell their property to afford medical services. This is what we are talking about and the government thinks we are enjoying. Teachers are suffering," Sossion said.

He said some civil servants earn up to 125 times the salary of the lowest paid teacher.

"The international standards for salary compression are 1:25. Here in Kenya it is 1: 125 and they think it is okay. This is a time bomb," said Sossion.

Addressing the media at Knut head office, Sossion gave the government up to the end of November to conclude all the negotiations or face a strike action.

He spoke after Teachers Service Commission (TSC) indefinitely suspended salary talks that were meant to take place Friday.

"Please note that the consultative meeting scheduled October 31, 2014 has been postponed as chair to the committee is engaged. A date for the next meeting will be communicated," reads the letter by TSC chief executive officer Gabriel Lengoiboni.

Flanked by senior officials of Knut, Sossion said members of the salary committee decide the dates of the meetings and accused Lengoiboni of acting out of his mandate.

"He cannot purport to talk on behalf of the committee. he is one member on the other side of the talks and can not speak for the committee chairperson," said Sossion.

The chairperson of the negotiation committee is Joseph Obonyo.  Lengoiboni said the postponement will also give the government side adequate time to consult.

The government has failed to table a counter offer to the 38 demands raised by the two teachers union.

The State has also declined to commit to any of the key demands raised by the unions after six successive meetings at the TSC head office.