TSC out to muzzle unions, say officials

Teachers' unions Monday asked new Education Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang'i to restore sanity in the education sector.

During a meeting with the CS at Jogoo House, the unions reportedly issued a raft of conditions which they said needed to be ironed out before proper engagement with the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) kicks off.

Kenya National Union of Teachers (Knut) and Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (Kuppet) officials maintained that the September salaries must be paid and union dues released immediately.

They also want the teachers' employer to withdraw a circular it issued last week asking teachers to validate their membership.

TSC Chief Executive Officer Nancy Macharia said all teachers had up to February next year to confirm their membership with unions.

Union officials asked Matiang'i to slow down the teachers' employer for "disrespecting unions and engaging in backward tactics to muzzle unions."

"We told him that unless September salaries and union dues are remitted there shall be no peace in the sector and no talks shall kick off as was directed by the President," said an official who attended the meeting.

The officials did not address the media after the meeting because a "resolution was arrived at that a joint communication would be issued."

Matiangi, Knut Secretary General Wilson Sossion and his Kuppet counterpart Akelo Misori declined to speak to the media after the meeting.

But sources told The Standard that Matiangi acknowledged his Twitter statement that he had spoken to relevant persons to ensure salaries were paid starting Monday.

"He told us he had spoken to Attorney General Githu Muigai, Ms Macharia and Treasury CS, Rotich," said a union official who asked not to be quoted for fear of being seen to sabotage the goodwill extended by Matiang'i.

But speaking separately, Mr Sossion accused TSC of intimidating teachers and purporting to recruit members for unions.