Yet another time, teachers have been advised to ignore Teachers Service Commission's directive of appending their signature to the performance contract and appraisal forms until the Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) and other key stakeholders in the education sector are fully involved.
Speaking at St. Peters Suneka Secondary School during a by-election for Kisii South's KNUT branch chairperson, Wycliffe Omucheyi, the union's second national vice chairperson claimed the performance contracting idea was an hoodwinking strategy the government introduced to cripple teacher unions and sabotage promotions among teachers.
"Our position as teachers fighters is clear. Head teachers and principals should not be compelled to sign a document we don't understand. Labour has already written to TSC warning it against forcing teachers to sign performance contracting forms," said Omucheyi.
"They must do as the conciliator has said to put everything on hold. Therefore, nobody should compel you to sign the document. Do it at your own peril," Omucheyi warned teachers.
He told the government: "We can only scratch your back if you ready to scratch ours."
The KNUT official said the union will fight down a health scheme that is not offering substantive service to its clients.
"We will not allow our members to continue remitting funds to AON, a health scheme meant for teachers unless it's streamlined. We want to see the value of our money," he said.
Mr Omucheyi said they will continue to push TSC till they release the union dues that have been withheld since September last year.
"TSC was born through us but it's humiliating and intimidating its 'father'. We will relentlessly push for the union dues that the teacher employer is holding. We, the union officials countrywide, have not been paid for three months now," he said.
James Muuo Ndiku who deputises the national treasurer, said talks are at advanced stage to have teachers' salary increment effected:
"We have been taken by a ride for a long time, but this is will come to an end soon. We are doing all within our means to ensure teachers are paid well. We are at advanced stage to have a collective bargaining agreement that will see teachers getting good pay," revealed Ndiku.
The Kisii South KNUT branch's by-election saw John Makori thrashing his only opponent, Victor Ombasa, to win in the hotly contested exercise.
Mr Makori, the incoming chairman, garnered 307 votes, a drift of 28 votes from his challenger, Ombasa who secured a total of 279 votes.
The branch's vice chairperson, Beatrice Mauti, has been acting as the chairperson in the last three months.
The by-election followed a tie in that position on February 18, this year, during the election of the current officials. The two contenders tied with 320 votes.
Mr Ombasa conceded defeat and promised to work with the 'Team Change', in an effort to improve the welfare of teachers.
The branch executive secretary, Geoffrey Mogire, hailed teachers for turning up in large numbers to exercise their democratic right by electing their union branch chairperson.
Mr. Mogire said, with branch and national officials, they will champion for the rights of teachers till their demands are met.
He promised to organize trainings for the branch's representatives for them to gain knowledge that will enable them serve members efficiently.
The vocal KNUT official, fondly referred to as 'Mtumishi', challenged teachers to continue with validation of their membership so that they can effectively push for their rights.
The chairman-elect, Mr. Makori , thanked teachers for having trust in him by electing him as their leader.
He promised to selflessly and indiscriminately serve all teachers, to strengthen the union.
"Am extremely excited fellow teachers for electing me your chairman. I will work with you in regardless of our political affiliations to foster teacher rights and strength our union."
Omucheyi warned against political intervention in school administration and management.
He was referring to an incident that took place recently in Kisii South sub-county, where suspected hired goons stormed lruma secondary and assaulted the school's principal.
Area MP Zebedeo Opore is suspected to be behind the heinous act.