A section of Kisii teachers have defied calls from their unions to boycott work till the government responds positively to their demands of pay hike of between 50-60 percent as granted by the supreme court in its ruling.
However, their Nyamira counterparts have vowed to never report to work till they are paid. They have threatened to attack any teacher who will attempt to report to work.
According to Kisii Central Education Officer Charles Nyaribo, a good number of teachers reported to work despite the ongoing strike.
“About 70 per cent of teachers more especially for secondary schools turned up in various schools in Kisii central. Among the schools that we visited and found teachers in school were Cardinal Otunga Mosocho High school, St Patricks Mosocho and Ongincha secondary schools,” said Mr. Nyaribo.
He added: “Almost 100 per cent of form four candidates turned up with a few form one, two and three reported for study. There was a bit of learning but teachers stayed out of class as students took themselves though class work.”
On his side, Nyamira branch KUPPET secretary general Lewis Nyakweba vowed to continue with the strike till an amicable remedy is established between the government and teachers over pay rise.
This comes two days later when teachers held peaceful demonstrations in Kisii Town on Wednesday demanding to be paid their dues. The strike is on its fifty day today (Friday).
Kisii County Kuppet secretary general Ben Nyaundi insisted teachers will not report to work unless the government pays them the 50-60 per cent pay.
“The government must reason with teachers if they want us to open schools. We are not going to class till our demands are met. This is total mockery the government is doing against teachers," Nyaundi said.
ODM secretary general, Ababu Namwamba, who was in Nyamira on Thursday campaigning for voter registration among the youth and residents, backed the teachers and challenged the government to prioritize in solving teachers’ issues so that they can resume their work.
“As a distinguished lawyer, I support teachers and let the government them their dues. There is enough money to pay teachers. Its their right and therefore the government must stop intimidating and discriminating them,” said the ODM secretary general.
KNUT has since sued TSC for contempt of court after the court ruled that teachers’ demand of salary increment is justified.
Teachers’ Service Commission (TSC) had declared that teachers’ strike is illegal because they did not give a notice over the strike that prompted them to seek judicial redress into the ongoing strike.