Teachers in Kisii County have vowed to go on with their strike, till the government heeds to their call for salary increment.
The teachers, who walked round the streets of Kisii town called on the Education Cabinet Secretary Prof. Jacob Kaimenyi to resign, if he cannot handle their issues.
According to the KNUT Executive Secretary Kisii Branch Shem Nyaundi, the government is not committed in ending the week-long strike, terming it selfish and discriminative.
“The government is not serious with Kenyan teachers, and the likes of Kaimenyi should resign for failing to establish an amicable remedy to teacher issues; we have sworn never to go to classrooms till our demands are met,” said Nyaundi.
“We are not cowards to be threatened to be fired if we do not resume duties, let them do so if they so wish,” added Nyaundi.
He further noted that they have not been added any penny since the historical 1997 strike that also paralysed education in public schools.
“The government has failed to handle the issues facing teachers since 1997, time immemorial of the then KNUT Secretary General Ambross Adongo, whereby there was salary agreement including introduction or increment of various allowances in phases,” added Nyaundi.
Politicians too have joined the striking teachers and asked the government, through its Salary and Remuneration Commission, to pay civil servants and other public servants according to their qualifications.
“Teachers are right in their own way and therefore, they should be paid well. They are the fulcrum of the society since all of us have gone through their hands and therefore, we cannot afford discriminating them,” said Samuel Omwando, a former Kitutu Chache South Member of Parliament aspirant.