Government setting a bad precedent on teachers pay hike row

Kenya: The Government is setting a bad precedent in refusing to accept the court ruling on teachers’ pay rise. This move could easily erode the trust and confidence that has been created in the Judiciary with the coming in force of the new Constitution.

In many countries where the rule of the law is never obeyed, anarchy becomes the order of the day.

It is indeed sad that the very government that is supposed to be the custodian of the law can openly disobey a court ruling and this has really weakened the supremacy of the law.

Whether the Government will final honour the ruling or not, this has negatively impacted on the trust that Kenyans had in the Judiciary.

Cabinet Secretary for National Treasury Henry Rotich has vowed that the Government will not pay teachers since no money had been set aside for that.

On the other hand, the chairman of the parliamentary committee has said teachers do not deserve any payment above what they are getting because they have refused to sign performance contracts.

The Teachers Service Commission has also hinted that it could be going back to the Supreme Court to present a new case and this has thrown many Kenyans in confusion as to whether there is an avenue for such appeal.

The Government appears to have taken a reverse gear towards gains that have been achieved in the Judiciary.

It is sad that all gains that Kenyans have witnessed in the last few years could easily be lost.

Kenyans have also witnessed arrest warrants that have been issued against some senior government officials but they have never been implemented by the police.

One wonders whether laws are only meant for common man. What picture is the Government sending to the young people in schools and institution of learning.