Teachers have paralysed businesses in Nyamira town after going to streets, compelling the government to yield to their demands.
Led by Kenya National Union of Teachers (Knut) Nyamira branch secretary general Evans Nyabando, teachers on Tuesday agreed that they will not go back to work till the government increases their salaries as tabled by their respective unions.
“We are here today as Knut and Kuppet with no traditional differences among us. Our rights as teachers ought to be respected and no one can intimidate us,” said Nyabando.
Nyabando said teachers were unfairly treated by the national government both in the present and previous regimes.
They accused Education Cabinet Secretary Jacob Kaimenyi and his Labour counterpart Kazungu Kambi together with Teachers Service Commission (TSC) of harassing and intimidating teachers with threats and called for their immediate resignation.
“TSC, Labour and Education cabinet secretaries are fond of taking us for granted. We are equally tired with their intimidation and this is the time for them to resign,” said Nyabando.
They defended their strike, saying it was long overdue due to non-compliance from the government to pay them their dues.