Industrial action splits giant union bosses

By Augustine Oduor and Linah Benyawa

NAIROBI, KENYA: Teachers unions differed over industrial action as Education secretary Jacob Kaimenyi asked them to give dialogue chance.

Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (Kuppet) and Kenya National Union of Teachers (Knut) differed at secondary schools heads meeting in Mombasa.

Knut national chairman Wilson Sossion said there is no strike unless his union has called it.

He said the union has given Government time to consult and dialogue with them even as they ready for a strike.  “There cannot be a successful strike if it is not called by Knut,” said Sossion. As he spoke, Kuppet national vice-chairperson Julius Korir said the strike has kicked off well and that teachers have absconded duty.

shouted down

Korir said the union had submitted their proposals to the Budget committee and lobbied through the Ministry of Education but no money was allocated at all.

And in what looked like a referendum on the strike, all principals shouted and raised their hands in agreement with the strike.

Kenya National Parents and Teachers Association chairman Nathan Barasa, who opposed the planned strike, was shouted down, as his idea was not popular with principals.

“Teachers should stop acting immature. They should engage the Government instead of issuing threats,” he said.

He was not allowed to complete his statement. Korir said it is unacceptable for teachers to continue earning meagre allowances compared to civil servants.