Why teachers are their own enemies

Teachers have always criticised the manner in which successive governments have handled their issues.

This has made commentators to argue that perhaps teachers should consider fronting a presidential candidate who shares in their suffering.

Given their numerical strength and their ability to influence the society, a candidate from the teaching fraternity could give other candidates a run for their money. Yet this is not what happened in 2013.

Abduba Dida, a teacher by profession, finished a distant fourth in a crowded presidential race.

When Dida announced his candidature, many expected that teachers would rally behind one of their own. However, they retreated back to their tribal cocoons and voted for their tribesmen.

This begs the question: Are teachers’ grievances strong enough to unite them beyond mere annual strikes? Are these chants of “haki yetu” and “no money no chalk” about comradeship or individual needs that gets forgotten during electioneering?

Just like women who cry foul for not being voted in political offices yet they are the majority, Kenyan teachers are their own enemies.