Kenyan teachers camp outside TSC offices, demand September pay

Teachers from across the country yesterday camped outside the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) headquarters in a bid to have their dues released.

As Kenyans celebrated the 52nd Mashujaa day, frustrated teachers were outside their employer's offices in Upper Hill demanding their September salaries.

Aware that the case was still in court, the teachers urged the Government to obey the court order to pay them their salaries, saying life was becoming unbearable and some were now opting for suicide.

The angered lot asserted that they would not relent on their mission to force TSC to release their September pay as well as their union dues.

"The reason we are here today is to set up camp outside TSC offices until we are paid. We will fast and pray for however long it takes. We are not going anywhere until teachers are paid. We need to ensure the Government obeys the court order," they said.

Kuppet Kisumu Executive Secretary John Hadulla was part of the sit-in and expressed his frustrations on the lack of payment, saying the last time he got a salary was in June.

"We want to see a country, which has a system and also one with quality education. Teachers are back in class teaching but without money it is becoming impossible. We are going to keep vigil until we force TSC to release union dues as well as our salaries," he said.

They demanded the Government communicates when and whether their dues were going to be paid. This comes weeks after court rulings ended the teachers' month-long strike and the State's plan to hire 70,000 replacement teachers.