The Teachers Service Commission (TSC ) is today expected to remove from its payroll names of defiant teachers participating in the countrywide strike as schools continued sending students back home yesterday.
It was also a day that saw the Opposition Cord threaten to initiate impeachment proceedings against President Uhuru Kenyatta for what it termed failing to direct his government to implement the teachers’ pay hike awarded by the courts.
Addressing a news conference at Parliament Buildings yesterday, 13 MPs, both Senators and members of the National Assembly, said they had tasked Suba MP and ODM chairman John Mbadi and a team of legislators to kickstart the impeachment process.
TSC on Monday told teachers to either resume duty by today or forget their September salaries, a threat that has been dismissed the Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT).
And with the court’s appeal to TSC not to intimidate or threaten teachers, it now remains to be seen whether the teachers’ employer will live up to its threat.
The move comes on the eve of a petition by the Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (Kuppet) to the National Assembly to recall Parliament from recess to allocate funds for teachers’ salaries as awarded by the Employment and Labour Relations Court.
This comes as several schools have sent their children home and closed the institutions as the strike bite entered its third week, with no end in sight. A spot check by People Daily has established that some schools which have closed include Kaaga Girls in Meru and Bungoma High School.
Kuppet Secretary General Akello Misori said the intervention by Parliament will help resolve the long-standing pay dispute between teachers and their employer as well as protect the constitution and promote democratic governance.
The union’s National Executive Board (NEB), in its appeal, noted that Article 95(4) of the Constitution gives Parliament powers to appropriate funds for national government and other national organs.
“We have petitioned Parliament through the Speaker to convene and consider a budget review by invoking provisions of Article 95(4) of the Constitution that allows Parliament to appropriate funds via supplementary budget,” said the letter, which was also copied to Majority Leader, Aden Duale and Minority Leader, Francis Nyenze. Kuppet blamed TSC and the National Treasury for issuing threats to teachers and misleading the public that the economy will not sustain the wage bill.
Misori, however, called on teachers not to give in to intimidation and threats and unwaveringly demand for their rights until their basic salaries are increased by 50 to 60 per cent.
He dismissed claims that the ruling by High Court judge, Mr Justice Nelson Abuodha directed the unions to halt street protests pending a determination on the legality of the ongoing strike.
Misori encouraged his members to engage in peaceful demonstrations and keep away from schools in solidarity with their colleagues as there is no provision to guarantee their safety in schools. “Teachers should keep on converging in our offices around the country and continue with street demonstrations.
They should, however, take caution that criminal elements don’t infiltrate and take advantage of the situation,” he said. The government has maintained it cannot pay teachers the money awarded by courts, saying it is not catered for in the 2015/16 budget, and that if effected, will lead to increased taxes or cutting down on development budget.
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