Teachers in Naivasha sub-county ignored the government’s directive to go back to work and instead went on with their strike that has paralysed learning activities in public schools.
A spot check in the area showed empty classroom in some schools while in others only a handful of pupils were found in group discussions
Last week Education Cabinets Secretary Jacob Kaimenyi ordered teachers to resume their duties when schools open on Monday.
In a sharp rejoinder, leaders in Naivasha called on the teachers to resume their duties and wait for the economy to recover.
Led by Nakuru County Implementation Committee chairman Simon Wanango, the leaders said it was wrong for the teachers to disrespect the government and court orders claiming that they had been given a reasonable offer.
Wanango who is the Naivasha Lake view Member of County Assembly (MCA) said that government could not meet all the teachers’ demands at a go and called on them to go back to class and wait for gradual increment of their salary.
He also called on Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) to drop their hardline stand and instead negotiate a return to work formula with the government.
Teachers have been going on strike year in year out, a situation their union leaders say is as a result of the government’s dishonesty of not keeping its promises to them.