Deputy President William Ruto has urged teachers return to school, reiterating the stand by the President that there was no money to effect their pay increase.
Ruto called on the officials of the Kenya National Union of Teachers (Knut) and the Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (Kuppet) to heed the call by their employer to end the strike.
Speaking at Huruma grounds in Eldoret town on Sunday, Ruto said it was saddening that the union's officials are taking a firm stand about the pay increase when thousands of children were suffering.
"We have the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) that says we cannot pay more salaries than we are already paying for not only teachers but all civil servants," he said.
He stressed that the government respects the rule of law saying that it has not refused to pay teachers as ordered by the Supreme Court but the current economic situation could not allow.
"We have the Teachers Service Commission (TSC), an independent commission that has said there is no money to effect the pay rise. What do you want us to do? Let the teachers go back to class, that is the position," Ruto said.
He urged parents to stay calm and keep their children at home until the dispute is settled saying the government is trying to engage the unions' officials to end the strike that has paralysed learning countrywide.
This comes as Kuppet and Knut teachers official refused to call off the strike that will enter the third week on Monday until the government implements the court’s order of a 50-60 percent pay increase.
"That is not the work of Sarah Serem (SRC chairperson). The court ruled very well," Knut secretary general Wilson Sossion said on Sunday.