A section of teachers in Nakuru County have expressed optimism that the new Education Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang'i will help resolve a pay impasse between them and their employer, the Teachers Service Commission.
In an interview with this writer on Wednesday in Nakuru, the teachers were emphatic that Matiang'i will help address challenges in the vital ministry.
"I believe the new CS will turn things around and solve the current pay impasse between the teachers and the TSC. I have monitored him keenly and I believe he will help solve matters in a more amicable way than his predecessor," admitted Daniel Mwaura, a teacher at Afraha High School.
To Ann Jeptoo who teaches at Kenyatta High School, Matiangi's appointment heralds a new beginning.
She termed his incoming as godsend now that the teachers’ unions’ officials and TSC are set to hold meetings to resolve perennial strikes over salary increments.
"I feel his coming into this ministry at a time when our bosses will have meetings with the employer is godsend. I believe he will help much more than his predecessor,” she added.
The same sentiments were echoed by Tom Waluke , a tutor at Nakuru West Primary School who stated that he was looking up to better times salary-wise with the new minister.
"Matiang’i is the best bet to help us get our September salaries as well as a better working environment in the near future. I am optimistic he will help," noted Nickson Theuri, a teacher at Koinange Primary.
Matiang’i was Tuesday appointed to the Education ministry replacing Jacob Kaimenyi who was moved to the Lands docket in a Cabinet reshuffle announced by President Uhuru Kenyatta.
He comes in at a time when teachers are working on a road map for a new Collective Bargaining Agreement.
The teachers are also demanding their September pay which TSC is yet to release despite being directed by President Uhuru Kenyatta to do so.