'State has no money to effect teachers' pay hike'

The Government has no money to effect a pay hike awarded to teachers by the High Court, the National Assembly Budget Committee chairman Mutava Musyimi has said.

According to Mr Musyimi, the Government has no idea where the money will come from but the National Assembly would handle the matter and act as per the recommendations from Education Cabinet Secretary Jacob Kaimenyi and the Treasury.

"I read about the matter and the debate it has raised in the media. I do not know how the money would be raised. We are not against the increment but are ready to on recommendations from the Education Cabinet Secretary and his Treasury counterpart,” he said.

And shouldteachers win an appeal lodged by the Government at the Supreme Court, the National Assembly's legal office will advise the Assembly on the way forward.

High Court Judge Nduma Nderi awarded teachers a pay increment of between 50 and 60 per cent, but the Government has contested it and moved to a higher court.

Teachers have threatened to down their tools when schools open in September if the Government fails to effect the pay hike.

Mutava who spoke at the sidelines of a Sh30 million bursaries distribution to his constituents at Kiritiri hall also said the Government will not let Kenya Airways (KQ) collapse in the wake of its Sh25 billion loss.

He criticised the Transport and Treasury ministries for failing to foresee the financial mess at the airline even as the country was made to believe all was well. He blamed KQ leaders for the mess.