Union officials decry non-payment of teachers at drama festival in Mombasa

The Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) now wants Education Cabinet Secretary Ezekiel Machogu to intervene in the non-payment of teachers attending the drama festivals in Mombasa.

KUPPET officials led by Deputy Secretary-General Moses Nthurima lamented the unfortunate conditions teachers, judges, and other officials are having to grapple with, owing to unpaid dues.

"Drama teachers should be paid by the Ministry of Education, but they haven't for the last eight days. Teachers are now 'scavenging'; some are being forced to sleep in the school buses. The situation is deplorable," Nthurima said.

The union officials further claimed teachers are stranded in the Coastal town with nowhere to go nor anyone to turn to, adding that Mombasa is an expensive town.

"We urge the Education CS to reign upon his officers on the ground because the money that should have been disbursed to officials here hasn't gotten to them," he said.

Nthurima, in the company of KUPPET National Secretary Sammy Chelang'a, spoke at Shimo la Tewa High School where this year's edition of the Kenya Schools and Colleges Drama and Film Festival is taking place.

Machogu is expected to grace the festival tomorrow, Thursday, April 27.

The celebrations run until Friday, April 28. A state concert will then be held on Friday.