Kenya government should find a way of solving teachers' salary increment standoff

Teachers yesterday actualised their threat to go on strike following the Government’s failure to effect a salary increment of between 50 and 60 per cent as ordered by the High court of Kenya, with most schools reporting the absence of teachers.

While the most logical thing to do was for Parliament to devise ways of raising funds to end the impasse, the legislators chose to go on recess instead. There is little that can be done without Parliament’s approval because, either way, consent is needed to divert some funds from the budget for the 2015/2016 financial year. It is dishonest of parliamentarians to leave the Teachers Service Commission holding the bag, sending a clear message that the teachers concerns did not merit their immediate attention.