Teachers ready to down tools, says Kenya National Union of Teachers chairman

The Kenya Union of Teachers (Knut) has said its members are ready to go on strike if that is what it will take to force the Government award them a salary increment as ordered by the Industrial Court.

Knut chairman Mudzo Nzili termed their agitation for the 50 to 60 per cent pay increase a war that they are prepared to wage against the Government until the raise is implemented.

Speaking during the Knut Meru Central Annual General Meeting at Gikumene Primary School in Meru County yesterday, Mr Nzili said the Government’s argument that it does not have enough money to effect the court order was not true.

“When we need it to put in enough money for recruitment and promotion of teachers, the Government says it has no cash. But when Kenya Airways cries that it has no money, a Sh60 billion bailout is organised quickly,” charged Nzili, who was flanked by National Executive Committee member Julius Taitumu, Meru branch chairman Caxton Miungi, and other officials.

The Knut chairman said a Teachers Service Commission survey on teachers’ remuneration in several countries in the region that found Kenyan teachers were grossly underpaid, and thus needed to be paid better to improve education standards.

“The document that said teachers needed a 50 to 60 per cent pay rise to cushion them from harsh economic burdens came from TSC. Teachers hadn’t had a raise since 1997 so we celebrated when the Industrial Court gave us the raise, but they rushed to court to contest it and our celebrations ended prematurely,” Nzili told the about 1,000 teachers. He expressed disappointment over the fact that despite the Court of Appeal upholding the earlier ruling of the Industrial Court, and trying to bring the two parties to an agreement, the Government still went to the Supreme Court.

“On Monday, we will listen. But we fear that even if we win again they might now take us to the ICC!” he joked, to wild applause from the teachers.

“Teachers qualify for the 50 to 60 per cent pay rise. We will not let that go. If a strike, even if it is for more than a month, is for the good of the teachers, it is good.”

In addition, he said Knut would pull out of the medical insurance scheme with AON.

“We didn’t sign any contract with AON,” the KNUT boss said, and vowed that he and Knut secretary general Wilson Sossion would remain steadfast in agitating for teachers’ rights. “If you want us to join the scheme, the Government must be prepared to contribute three per cent, because we are only ready to contribute one per cent of our basic salary. Unfortunately, the Government is not contributing even one per cent.”

Further, he accused the Government of using the Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (Kuppet) to frustrate Knut.

Nzili claimed the TSC had taken thousands of teachers to Kuppet in a bid to reduce Knut’s influence.