By VITALIS KIMUTAI and FRANCIS ONTOMWA
The Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (Kuppet) has asked teachers across the country to close schools following failure by Government to release Sh11.3 billion education funds.
Kuppet also asked parents to withdraw their children from schools to pile pressure on the ministry to act on the matter.
Mr Akello Misori, the union’s Secretary General and the National Chairman, Mr Omboko Milemba led secretaries from the counties during a meeting in Nairobi in giving the directive, which they said would take effect from today.
“We have been forced to take the action following failure by the government to release the required funds in time,” Misori said.
He accused senior officials in ministries of Education and Finance for frustrating a noble program, which has received praise from across the globe.
“We are appealing to President and Prime Minister to intervene by convening an emergency Cabinet meeting to clear the way for release of the funds,” Misori said.
Akello and Milemba were flanked by National Treasurer, Njenga Mwithi, his deputy Ronald Tonui, National Organising Secretary, Paul Maingi, Vice chairmen Julius Korir and Edward Obwocha and Women Representative Catherine Wambilianga at the press conference.
“Principals are under a lot of pressure from suppliers, some of who have secured court orders to attack the institutions’ properties for failure to pay for goods. We can not allow panic in the institutions,” Misori said.
The officials hastened to add that the action they were taking was not an industrial one and as such could not be termed as a strike.
At the same time, teachers in Western Province have supported the planned strike to press for release of Free Primary and Secondary Education funds.
Vihiga Knut branch Executive Secretary Dickson Atsiaya said they had done their groundwork and teachers were in support of the strike.
“The government should not take the strike threat for granted because teachers cannot allow to someone sit on public funds,” he added.
