By Augustine Oduor
There is a ray of hope in talks to end the crippling teachers’ strike after the Government agreed to a key demand.
The Cabinet sub-committee agreed to knock off the contentious Legal Notice 16 of 2003 that amended teachers’ allowances as was negotiated under Legal Notice 534 of 1997.
Kenya National Union of Teachers (Knut) failed to recognise the 2003 Legal Notice saying it did not follow the right procedure and should first be removed to allow negotiations.
The 2003 Legal Notice amended six allowances teachers negotiated and were already gazetted under Legal Notice 534 of 1997, leaving out only two. The affected allowances were automatic house allowance, medical, responsibility, commuter, accommodation and transfer allowances.
The decision by the Government sub-committee now means that the legal notice will be implemented fully as Knut demanded. What will now be discussed is how to implement it.
The major decision was made on Friday when the Cabinet sub-committee began work under the chairmanship of Public Service minister Dalmas Otieno.
Speaking after the meeting, Education Minister Mutula Kilonzo said removal of the legal notice might see schools open next week.
