Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) has reported four deaths of its members across the country following the withholding of September salaries by the Teachers Service Commission (TSC).
KNUT national treasurer John Matiengi said members of the union are living in very difficult times forcing some teachers to commit suicide.
“The latest teacher to hang himself hails from Rachuonyo in Homa Bay County and this must be stopped only if TSC pays the September salary,” he said.
Matiengi appealed to President Uhuru Kenyatta to intervene and ask the commission to pay the September salary that was withheld following the teachers’ strike.
He said many teachers are on medication and cannot afford to purchase medicine for their various ailments.
“Some of our members are HIV positive and some have cancer. Where will they get money for medication? Our members are dying Mr President, step up and help us,” he pleaded.
Speaking in Kisumu on Tuesday during the union’s Nyanza Regional Annual General Meeting, Matiengi said withholding the union’s deductions is further complicating the matter.
He said teachers should not be victimised over the September strike noting that the court ruled that it was legal.
The treasurer said deductions for the unions should be disbursed since it is within the law claiming that union members have instructed their employers to make the deductions monthly.
“Teachers voluntarily wrote to their employers to deduct some amount from their salaries to be disbursed to the union, why decline to just do that,” he asked.