The high court in Nakuru has granted the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) secretary Gabriel Lengoiboni more time to pay Sh42.3 bilion owed to retired teachers.
Judge Roselyn Wendoh allowed an application by TSC’s lawyer, Alfred Stima, seeking to have the commission given extra time to make consultations with relevant government offices before releasing the funds.
“The commission has been added time to see if further consultations with relevant offices will yield any fruits,” said Justice Wendoh.
Lengoiboni moved to court asking for an extension of a 90-day period given earlier by the high court to pay part of the money owed to the retired teachers in a bid to avert arrest. Stima urged the court to add the TSC boss more time to honour the promise, arguing that he had taken necessary steps towards clearing the debt including consulting various relevant government agencies.
“My client has been engaged in high level consultations with relevant offices including the Treasury to ensure they are paid. Compliance involves collaboration with many government organs including the national assembly,” Stima told the court.
Justice Wendoh extended the period after high court judge Anyara Emukule issued orders on May 16 directing the commission boss to pay the retired teachers’ the salary arrears and pension amounting to Sh3.4 billion or risk six-month-imprisonment for contempt of court.
Justice Emukule had ordered the Inspector General of Police David Kimaiyo to arrest and jail Lengoiboni at the Kamiti Maximum prison if he failed to release the money within three months. The judge gave him the grace period to pay the amount which is part of the unpaid pension for thousands of retired teachers budgeted for in the 2011/2012 financial year.
The ex-teachers sued the commission in 2006, claiming unpaid lump sum salary increments and accrued pension from July 1997.
The matter will be heard on September 19.