Teachers emerge winners of 50-60 pc salary hike row

Knut Secretary General Wilson Sossion (left) Kuppet Secretary General Akello Misori (center) Knut Chair Mudzo Nzili and Kuppet Chair Amboko Milemba at a past press briefing. (Photo: File/Standard)

Nairobi, Kenya: The Supreme Court Monday dismissed an application by the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) seeking to bar the awarding of 50-60 pc pay rise.

This means that the TSC will have to pay teachers increased salaries during the August salary disbursement.

In its ruling, the Supreme Court argued that it had no jurisdiction to hear case.

“This court lacks jurisdiction to entertain an application challenging the exercise of discretion by the Court of Appeal,” said Justice Smokin Wanjala while delivering the ruling.

The Labour Court had ruled that teachers be awarded the pay rise effective August 1, a ruling that was upheld by the Court of Appeal.

Kenya National Union of Teachers (Knut) Secretary General Wilson Sossion welcomed the decision by the Supreme Court saying teachers have been given clean bill of health by all courts in this country.

“Teachers have been awarded justice, the truth has been availed, we've won. Now TSC must pay all the arrears,” said Sossion.

“No teacher will resume duty until the pay rise is reflected in the accounts of each one of them,” said Sossion amid cheers from teachers who had gathered to hear the ruling.