Teachers vow strike on despite salary freeze threat

By Moses Njagih and Vitalis Kimutai

Children in public primary and secondary schools are set to endure more suffering as the teachers’ strike over a pay dispute enters its second week, with no end in sight.

On Sunday striking teachers declined to yield to sack threats issued by their employer, Teachers Service Commission (TSC), and told the Government to prepare for a second week of intense national industrial action.

The teachers were talking tough saying they would not yield to what they termed intimidation by TSC as their strike, which has paralysed learning in all public schools, will only end when their conditions are met.

Kenya National Union of Teachers (Knut) and Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (Kuppet) stood their ground, insisting they would not accept anything other thanfull implementation of their pay agreement. “The week that ended was just a rehearsal, we are now coming to the true phase of the strike. And we are telling the Government that for as long as it continues not reading between the lines, this will be the mother of all strikes,” warned Knut Chairman Mr Wilson Sossion.

At a press conference at Knut’s headquarters, Sossion urged teachers to ignore a directive by the TSC that they report to their schools on Monday for a roll call. He instead urged them to assemble at their branch offices for further instructions.

“The teachers must ignore any other instruction or directive unless it is spoken (issued) by the union’s Secretary General. Those issuing the threats must know that when workers withdraw their labour, they do not take instructions from anywhere else but the union,” said Sossion.

Insisting they had not been served with court orders stopping the strike after the ruling that it was unconstitutional, Sossion said, even if service will be done, they would not call off the industrial action until their demands are met.

It was the same tough message that officials of Kuppet were issuing after attending prayers at All Saints Cathedral in Nairobi.

Illegal orders

“From Monday the strike will go into a second and critical phase where the teachers will go to Kuppet offices across the country to peacefully demonstrate against the employer,” said union Chairman Mr Omboko Milemba

Both sets of officials scoffed at what they termed as the arrogance of Education Minister Mutula Kilonzo, saying his “reckless talk” was fanning the strike.

“We are buoyed by the arrogance of Education Minister (Kilonzo) and TSC Chief Executive Gabriel Lengoiboni as they are issuing illegal orders and directives to the teachers,” said Kuppet Secretary General Mr Akello Misori.

He added: “The Government has no tangible proposal to offer teachers as Cabinet ministers and senior officers are only discussing the issues in funerals and public rallies”.

Knut officials who lamented that they were willing to negotiate with the Government over the dispute echoed his position, saying they had realised they were only dealing with “liars”.

“The Government is engaging in some mischief at the negotiating table. If they had tabled any offer, we would not be here,” he added.

Knut said instead of the Government engaging in constructive dialogue with the teachers, it had now resulted into using unorthodox means to silence the teachers; a move they vowed was bound to fail.

“Instead of the Government engaging us meaningfully, its officials have resorted to strategies of intimidation, including instructing the police to arrest us,” noted Sossion.

He claimed Knut is privy to a letter written to Police Commissioner Matthew Iteere by acting Head of the Public Service, Francis Kimemia calling for the arrest of teachers who demonstrate.

“We will not be cowed by such threats. We will exercise the provisions of the Constitution, which allow us to go on strike, without fear. We ask the police not to take unconstitutional instructions,” said Sossion.

Knut said it was ironical for TSC to start threatening teachers, when it had a chance to prevent the strike.

“We are shocked that the employer has the audacity to threaten teachers when it had all the time to deal with the issues raised and to avert the strike; but chose to ignore the notice until this matter went out of control,” said Knut Deputy Secretary General Mr Xavier Nyamu.

Back to school

Sossion urged parents to keep their children away from schools, saying they would not be responsible for any calamity that might befall the pupils.

He announced that retired teachers, who are also owed retirement dues by the Government, would join the striking teachers on the streets this week.

At All Saints Cathedral, ACK Archbishop Eliud Wabukala, called on the Government to address the issues raised by teachers to ensure normalcy returns in schools.

“Let the Government sort out the issues affecting them so that children can go back to school. As a former teacher, I understand the tribulations they face. Teachers are pillars of the society as they greatly contribute to the development of the human resource,” said Wabukala.

He said that the strike would affect the national examinations to be administered this term.

“We should not subject school-going children to more suffering at a critical time when they are preparing to sit for national examinations which has a bearing on their future careers,” Wabukala said after the church service.

Other Kuppet officials who attended the church service included national Vice Chairman Julius Korir, Treasurer Njenga Mwethi, Deputy Secretary Moses Nthurima and Secretary in charge of secondary schools Mr Edward Obwocha.