Leaders, clergy fault Uhuru remarks on teachers’ pay hike ruling

The stalemate over teachers’ Sh17 billion salary award deepened yesterday with unions digging in and the Government maintaining it has no money to effect the pay hike.

Union officials said the “no pay” statement by President Uhuru Kenyatta had angered teachers and vowed to stay away from classes.

Politicians, parents, clergy and a civil society organisation weighed in, criticising the Government for not managing the industrial action with the “utmost seriousness it deserves”.

Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) and the Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) officials yesterday said the President has “pushed teachers to the next level of strike.”

“We will never, ever call off the strike until teachers get the salary raise. We shall intensify our actions on Monday in a manner never seen before,” said KNUT Secretary General Wilson Sossion.

Mr Sossion warned the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) against threatening and intimidating teachers and stated that their right to strike is enshrined in the Constitution.

“We are coming up with an organised strategy. We ask all teachers to report to their respective branches where roll call shall be taken,” he said.

KUPPET Secretary General Akelo Misori said teachers will not resume work as such a move would give credence to Kenyatta’s misstep.

Respect the rule of law

“Teachers respect the rule of law and reporting to work means that the rule of law has been defeated with the highest office leading in the onslaught,” said Mr Misori.

The two officials spoke as former Prime Minister and CORD leader Raila Odinga expressed shock at what he termed “bad attitude of the Government.”

“It is our understanding that nations are run through the rule of law and that the Government must show the way in regard to respect for the rule of law,” said Raila.

He added that once the highest court in the land has spoken, “we have no option but to obey”.

“The alternative is anarchy. We are shocked that the President can publicly argue with the Supreme Court and state that he will not implement a court order. It is scary,” said Raila. “This strike is about governance, and corruption in Government and the rule of law. Uhuru is being tested and found wanting.”

CORD co-principal Moses Wetang’ula said: “When the President was minister for Finance he declared ‘can’t pay, won’t pay’ in respect of the Anglo Leasing rip-off, but when he took office, he quickly and unlawfully paid out the money.”

He reminded the Government that the highest court in the land has given its verdict and it is the President’s duty to obey the court order.

He said when the same court declared Kenyatta the winner of the 2013 presidential elections, the Opposition protested but he told them to accept and move on.

“It is now for us to advise him to pay the teachers and move on and also advise him that he cannot be red hot alert when it comes to other issues like signing questionable deals and ignore the teachers,” said Mr Wetang’ula.

He advised the Government to cut on wastage and eliminate corruption “in projects like the Standard Gauge Railway, National Youth Service and in county governments” to not only get money to pay teachers, but also carry out other development projects in the country.

The Ford Kenya leader said the Jubilee government must be accountable and meet its responsibility to Kenyans or ship out and leave other people to run the country and “we” are waiting.

Wiper Democratic Movement leader and CORD co-principal Kalonzo Musyoka warned that if by next week the Government will not have paid the teachers, he will ask all parents with children in schools to assemble at KICC grounds where they will demand for the salaries.

He asked teachers not to relent in the demand for what is rightfully theirs.

Kalonzo urged the Government to save money allegedly being taken from public institutions and dished out in harambees by top Jubilee leaders every weekend in an attempt to buy support.

“I’m requesting the whole country to be on standby next week for a major demonstration against the Government because they do not believe in the rule of law,” said the former Vice President.

And the National Assembly Speaker Justin Muturi urged Kenyans to respect constitutional institutions. “There are institutions mandated by the Constitution to deal with issues of pay. Let’s all respect them. We all have roles to play as per the law,” said Mr Muturi.

The Speaker, who spoke in Kisii County, was reacting to remarks by legislators who had attended a funds drive in aid of 16 churches at Nyamecheo, Nyaribari Chache.

The legislators had asked Muturi as the third most senior government official in Kenya to ensure that the teachers receive their revised pay in compliance with a court order immediately.

Kenya National Parents and Teachers Association (KNPTA) chairman Nathan Barasa urged the President to protect the education sector.

“Parents and children are helpless on this. We need help and the President cannot abandon us,” said Mr Barasa.

Elimu Yetu Coalition (EYC) national coordinator yesterday asked Kenyatta to offer leadership.

“Millions of children look up to the President. He must ensure learning is going on for their sake,” said Janet Muthoni.

The clergy also came to the defence of teachers. Bishop Cornelius Korir of Eldoret Catholic Diocese and Bishop Thomas Kogo of the Anglican Church of Kenya (ACK) Eldoret Diocese said demonstrations and threats from teachers and their employer would not be useful.

“The Government must commit to reduce corruption levels and money to pay teachers will be found,” said Korir.

Sheikh Abubakar Bin, North Rift chairperson of the Council of Imams and Preachers of Kenya (CIPK), said the Government should honour the Supreme Court ruling.

Central Organisation of Trade Union (COTU) secretary general Francis Atwoli said all workers will join the teachers next week.

He, however, said that the strike initially slated for tomorrow would temporarily be put on hold after Federation of Kenya Employers (FKE) served Cotu with a court order.

“Based on the ruling that will be given in court, we will meet to deliberate if the strike will kick off on Wednesday,” said Mr Atwoli.

He said the mother of all strikes set for next week is not a sympathy strike. “Teachers and nurses are our associates and we will therefore support all workers in their fight for justice,” he said.

Three Opposition MPs — Chris Wamalwa (Kiminini), Richard Onyonka (Kitutu Chache South) and Ferdinand Wanyonyi (Kwanza) — yesterday separately challenged the Head of State to divert the laptops money to pay teachers.

Long-term solution

The MPs accused the Government mishandling the education sector.

“The country’s education sector is at stake and if an urgent and long-term solution is not found, our children will lack access to education because the teachers have a rightful demand which the Government must honour,” said Mr Wamalwa.

Mr Onyonka faulted the Government’s for terming demands by teachers unsustainable.

“There is no justification that the Government has no money to pay teachers. This country has money most of which is being wasted on graft instead of rewarding hard-working teachers,” he said.

The Kwanza MP said the teachers’ pay rise demand is justified.

“It is illogical for the government to reiterate lack of sufficient funds. There has been misrepresentation of priorities by the Jubilee leadership and graft is hitting high levels,” said Mr Wanyonyi.

Speaking yesterday, Sossion asked the Government to prepare for a confrontation. “We are laying a firm strategy that will be rolled out until the Government realises it erred,” he said.

Teachers’ representatives from across the country yesterday reacted to Kenyatta’s statement.

KNUT National Executive Committee (NEC) member Alice Tuwey said political gimmicks would not derail teachers’ pursuit of what is rightfully theirs.

“It is a general agreement that nothing less of the money that the court awarded teachers is acceptable. The threats to close schools is nothing to scare us, in fact the schools are as good as closed,” she said.

In the North Rift, teachers asked the President to recognise the institution that legitimised his presidency. “Kenyatta is a product of the Supreme Court and must respect it, saying that awarding our salary increments will trigger pay hike calls from other servants means there is money,” said KNUT branch Executive Secretary Sammy Bor Chepkoilel.

Eldoret West Knut branch secretary, Arusei Kipchumba, said teachers will stay put following the President’s announcement.

“The solution is to pay us as the court ruled and we need all to respect all Government arms which enjoy independent decision making,” he said.

Wareng KNUT branch Executive Secretary John Boor said the move by the President has proved his leadership would not go beyond 2017.

“It is now clear the Jubilee administration cannot be trusted; his remarks have blurred his political ambitions completely. It is up to the Government to observe the court ruling as we will not blink first and we will be staging another major demonstration on Monday,” he said.

In Kakamega, teachers expressed their anger at the President’s stand. Kakamega County KNUT branch Executive Secretary Patrick Chungani, described the President’s remarks as “arrogant and insensitive” towards the plight of children.

Kakamega County KUPPET Secretary General Harrison Odota, dismissed President Uhuru’s stand and said teachers would not return to class on Monday.

 – Additional reporting by Osinde Obare, Alex Wakhisi, Silah Koskei, Michael Olinga and Eric Abuga