Kuppet may push to disband TSC for Kenyan frustrating teachers

From left: Kuppet chairman Omboko Milemba, Deputy Secretary General Moses Nthurima, Secretary General Akelo Misori, Assistant Treasurer Ronald Tonui and Secretary Gender Catherine Wambilyanga during the union’s 15th annual delegates conference in Bungoma Saturday. [PHOTO: WAWERU MURAGE/STANDARD]

NAIROBI: Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (Kuppet) has threatened to push for the disbandment of the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) for frustrating teachers.

Speaking yesterday during the 15th Annual Delegates Meeting at Tourist Hotel in Bungoma, Kuppet Chairman Omboko Milemba said that TSC had ceded its independence to other State organs. He noted that the Commission did not respect court orders and made decisions influenced by political considerations.

“The Commission must be warned that we can collect 1 million signatures in 10 days to remove its leadership if they  continue to frustrate us,” he said.

Mr Milemba added, “TSC is struggling to depict teachers as the enemy   instead of supporting teachers in their efforts to get better pay. They fight us yet we  put them in office,” said Milemba.

Kuppet also advised its members to venture into business to supplement their salaries.

“We encourage our branches to invest and encourage our teachers to become entrepreneurs instead of sitting pretty waiting for their salaries. This will eventually allow us to feed and educate our children,” he said.

The chairman said that although teachers are well regarded because they are educated, they are poorly paid.

He said they should not be viewed as desperate people who depend on their salaries to feed and educate their children. “We should venture into business to supplement what we earn; we will then be able to cater for other needs.  You saw recently some teacher’s committing suicide after failing to get their September salary,” said Milemba.

Over 600 delegates attended the three-day conference in which insecurity and remuneration were discussed at length.

The Union Secretary General, Akelo Misori, said  the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) had frustrated workers by disregarding their welfare

“Unions are operating in a very tough political climate; the Executive is out to suppress  freedoms of trade unions and it has found a conduit in the SRC.

Misori  said students who had cheated in exams should not be penalised by the Kenya National Examination Council because KNEC was inefficient and could not offer foolproof mechanisms to curb cheating.

Some of the officials present were Vice Chairman Julius Korir; Deputy Secretary General Moses Nthurima; Treasurers Njenga Mwethi and Ronald Tonui; the Assistant Treasurer and Gender Secretary Catherine Wambilyanga.