Key issues President Uhuru failed to capture on teachers' pay row

When President Uhuru Kenyatta addressed the nation on the on-going teachers’ strike, there was no doubt what the message was – that the Government was not going to honour the teachers’ pay award.

Going by the happenings of the last few weeks since the strike started, this was not surprising. All State organs involved – the Teachers Service Commission, the Salaries and Remuneration Commission, the Ministry of Education and the Treasury – have all indicated that the Government is not in a position to award teachers the increment, with reasons ranging from inability to pay, to the harmonisation of salaries in public service.