Labour court suspends disciplinary action against 221 teachers suspended over new curriculum

Cabinet Secretary for Health Sicily Kariuki when she appeared before the National Assembly Health Committee at Protection House, Nairobi. [Boniface Okendo/Standard]

A court yesterday suspended the interdiction of 221 teachers facing disciplinary action for failing to attend the new curriculum training.

Employment and Labour Relations Court Judge Byrum Ongaya ordered the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) not to conduct any disciplinary hearing or take any disciplinary action against the teachers until a case filed by the Kenya National Union of Teachers (Knut) is determined.

During the case, it emerged that some of the teachers were never notified about the Competency Based Curriculum (CBC) training.

The teachers’ union argues that the suspensions were meant to intimidate its members and stifle its objection to the new curriculum.

“The purported disciplinary action meted out by the respondent is in bad faith, intended mainly to settle scores, which the respondent holds against the applicant and its members, with the real intention being to undermine the activities and strength of the applicant trade union through targeting its members and sending panic amongst them,” argued Mbaluto.

The interdicted teachers had until May 26 to defend themselves in writing or get fired.

The TSC is accusing them of insubordination, infamous conduct and incitement during the training of tutors across the country.