By RENSON BULUMA
Busia, Kenya: A section of CORD leaders have criticised Government’s decision to pursue legal proceeding against striking teachers terming the move as unfortunate and one aimed at intimidating teachers.
Addressing journalists in Busia town Saturday, the leaders led by Siaya Senator James Orengo and Funyula MP Paul Otuoma said teachers are the ones supposed to take the Government to court for violating an agreement that it entered with them in 1997 through legal notice 534 and not the other way round.
Orengo said according to the law, the Government has violated an agreement that was made and gazetted as legal instrument and therefore it was wrong to prosecute teachers who were demanding their rights.
“The entity that is supposed to be taken to court for contempt and undermining the authority of the law is the government. The gazette notice which was published in 1997 as regards the benefits and remuneration of teachers was negotiated and published as a legal instrument that required implementation,” said Orengo.
He said under the new constitution, freedom of expression include freedom to picket and to hold demonstration and therefore Attorney General Githu Muigai was acting against the spirit and letter of the constitution by taking the matter to court.
Orengo regretted that the government has resorted to intimidating and harassing the leadership of teachers instead of carrying out genuine and constructive negotiation because teachers are willing to negotiate.
Other leaders present were Busia County Speaker Benard Wamalwa, Busia County ODM coordinator Noor Mohammed, Ward representatives Lucas Wakuloba (Matayos South) and Wilberforce Sande (Bwiri) among others.
Otuoma said the responsibility to honour the agreement is now with the Jubilee government and all effort should be made to end the stalemate.
“The government should stop threats against teachers and instead look for ways that will help learning to resume in schools,” said Otuoma.
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