The move on teachers' pay is very good. But...

Renewed talks between Jubilee administration and teachers’ unions with a view to reach a consensus on the pay dispute is not just politically correct, but ethically and morally long overdue.

President Uhuru Kenyatta’s directive that the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) to consider paying teachers their September pay, trade unions to withdraw all pending cases and initiate fresh negotiations and finding a lasting solution to perennial teachers’ unrest is welcome

The Jubilee government should go a step further and ensure that its plan to hire 70,000 teachers goes as planned, effect pending promotions of 43,000 teachers, increase leave, commuter and medical allowances, among other dues.

The change of heart by Jubilee administration designed to iron out the bad blood with teachers confounds both loyalists and critics and appears to be retracting Uhuru’s earlier remark that his government “cant pay and won’t pay”.

In 2013, the State fined unions leaders at least Sh3 million for what was described as violating labour laws.

The latest political solution raises more queries than answers on checks and balances between the three government organs Executive, Judiciary and Legislature on matters of legality as well as respect of the rule of law as judges are mistaken to read from different scripts.

It raises tough questions on the mandate of TSC as a free and independent body in determining teachers pay and future respect for collective bargaining agreements in compliance statues.

It also raises concerns as to whether TSC can divorce its decisions from the influence of the Executive or political machines.