TSC bid to block September pay worrying

The renewed bid by the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) to block the September salaries for teachers raises grave questions.

Kenyans are wondering at its keenness to see the rule of law upheld and maintain the rapport and confidence of the teaching fraternity.

Its suit to stop the September pay, which according to analysts is purely fuelled by allegations forwarded by unions over the presence of ghost workers at the commission, should be addressed urgently. This will stop the education sector from plunging into yet another stalemate come 2016.

TSC issued what is viewed by many as a punitive a circular dated asking all teachers to declare their wealth and verify their membership online so as to smoke out illegal teachers in the payroll.

Whereas only the Kenya Revenue Authority is mandated with ordering declaration of wealth, TSC CEO Nancy Macharia was quoted by media saying individual teachers are under clear instructions to submit their sealed envelopes containing their declarations to head teachers.

CORRUPT PRACTICES

l urge a fresh head count be held to ascertain the Kenya National Union of Teachers’ claims.

This comes amid a TSC decision to block the September salaries for teachers at the Court of Appeal despite a green light by President Uhuru Kenyatta, Attorney General Githu Muigai and Education Cabinet Secretary nominee Fred Matiang’i  to have teachers paid their salaries.

Tough questions rising from TSC’s move range from, why continue punishing teachers because of a vendetta with unions over corrupt practices? Why backtrack on a 50-60 per cent pay increase it gave teachers? How long will we wait before the employer and teachers stop fighting at the expense of poor defenceless children? Education key players including the Executive, Judiciary and Legislature have turned a blind eye on the issue.