About 2,000 retired teachers have given the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) a seven-day ultimatum to pay them Sh42 billion in retirement benefits and accumulated interests of 42 per cent from 2010.
Speaking in Nakuru yesterday, the teachers who downed the chalk in 1997, led by their chairman Joseph Mwenja said TSC should pay the money through their advocates.
Mr Mwenja said TSC has exhausted all legal avenues to block the payment with the retired teachers having won all cases filed by their former employer.
“We hereby instruct lawyers to move with speed to enforce the court order and cite any other relevant authorities for contempt of court if the money is not released within seven days,” said Mwenja.
The ultimatum comes after the Supreme Court of Kenya dismissed applications filled by TSC on December 9, and ordered the employer to pay the retired teachers.
Mwenja said the main hindrance to the release of the money to the 52,338 teachers has been unnecessary delay by the Attorney General and Controller of Budget’s offices.
“Having undergone through all legal proceedings for 10 years, there is no other avenue for TSC but payment of our dues,” he said. The High Court in Nakuru had in October 2008 ordered the government to pay the retired teachers, but TSC filed an appeal against the ruling in 2009. The appeal was dismissed in November 2010, but TSC moved to the Supreme Court to block the payment.
“It is now clear that TSC has no alternative other than to honour the Supreme Court ruling and release the long awaited dues. Retired teachers have been patient and we now demand our money,” said vice chairman David Kamau.