Retired teachers to get Sh3b pension

From right Retired teachers group Secretary Gidraff Kimata,Chairman Joseph Mwenja ,Vice chairman David Kamau with other retired teachers addresing the press in Nakuru on February 18,2016 where they demanded the government to pay them shs 42.3 billion dues consisiting of uunpaid salary and pension .PHOTO:KIPSANG JOSEPH

The Government has set aside Sh3 billion to pay retired teachers who have waited for over two decades. The amount is part of the Sh16.7 billion pension and gratuity that teachers who retired between 1997 and 2006 are owed.

Appearing before the National Assembly's Committee on Implementation, Treasury Cabinet Secretary Henry Rotich said Sh1.5 billion had been allocated in the supplementary budget.

A similar amount is factored in the 2016-2017 budget and the remaining amount would be released in phases. "We have a multi-agency task force that brings together the Attorney General, Controller of Budget, Teachers Service Commission and Treasury that will look at how many years the remaining amount will be phased out," said Mr Rotich.

The CS had been invited to explain how the ministry would pay Sh42 billion provided by the teachers' lawyer and upheld by the Court of Appeal in November 2010. Rotich said the delay in payment was occasioned by court cases.