Teachers from Nyamira County have continued with their onslaught on the government, accusing it of subjecting them to a raw deal.
The teachers union through Masaba Knut branch Secretary Meshack Ombong’i on Monday threatened the government with a shocking political decision if it continued with ‘persistent’ intimidation of teachers by failing to increase their salaries as ordered by the Industrial Court in September 2015.
Ombong’i said teachers could not be ignored in making political decisions, and urged President Uhuru Kenyatta to take an initiative and persuade TSC to comply with the court order.
“This government has persistently intimidated Kenyan teachers and this time round they must be ready for a shocking political decision. We cannot be ignored in making political decision and the President has a chance to order TSC to desist from being rigid on matters salary increment otherwise we are ready to humiliate him in 2017,” he said.
County leaders led by Governor John Nyagarama backed the embattled teachers, saying they were poorly paid, making it difficult for them to sustain their lives.
“I was once a teacher and I know how painful it is. the national government should pay these teachers because they deserve it given the tedious job they do,” Nyagarama said.
Senator Mong’are Okongo condemned TSC on what he called ‘playing side shows’, and said the government is to blame for deteriorating education standards.
“TSC is playing side shows in this matter of paying teachers. They should realise that the Industrial Court had a point and it’s wrong to run for help in other courts which they are clearly compromised. This government is right behind the deteriorating education standards in our country,” he said.