CORD leaders accuse President Uhuru of lying on wage bill

Opposition leaders disputed President Uhuru Kenyatta's assertion that the economy is incapable of supporting the teachers' salary increment.

While addressing thousands of Kenyans who turned up at Uhuru Park grounds, Coalition for Reforms and Democracy (CORD) leaders led by Raila Odinga accused the President of lying to Kenyans and pressed the Government to pay teachers the 50-60 per cent salary increment awarded by the court, which has sparked a nationwide strike that culminated in closure of public primary and secondary schools countrywide on Monday.

The leaders, some of them clad in school uniform, poked holes in the President's speech on Sunday night, in which he said that public officers' wages gobble up 52 per cent of national revenue and, therefore, it would be imprudent to budget for an additional Sh17 billion this year for the teachers' pay increase.

And to show solidarity with over 280,000 striking teachers, whose pay demands the Government has rejected and who risk missing their salary at the end of the month, the CORD principals opened an account and pleaded with Kenyans to help the teachers. They asked Kenyans to contribute to Pay Bill number 672672.

Raila gave figures in a bid to show that the public wage bill is at 32 per cent of revenue, below the global average of 35 per cent for middle-income countries, and accused the Government of lying to deny teachers a deserved pay rise.

He claimed the wage bill is Sh370 billion, against last year's revenue of Sh1.16 trillion and questioned where the President got the Sh568 billion figure that he announced in his address.

"The issue of wage bill sustainability or damaging the economy is a red herring, a plain lie," Raila said and challenged the Government to pay up or give up office.

"Our teachers have demanded a fair day's pay for a fair day's work. Our courts have agreed they deserve it, they must have it. President Uhuru Kenyatta says, Can't pay, Won't Pay. If you can't pay go home," Raila said drawing cheers from the crowd.

Grand Coalition

To buttress the argument that the President's figures do not add up, Raila said this year the Government will have Sh443 billion more revenue than that of the Grand Coalition Government, which he (Raila) was part of.

"The Government is telling us that out of a revenue increase of Sh443 billion (55 per cent), we cannot afford Sh17 billion for teachers?" Raila posed. "If the Government paid Sh568 billion wage bill last year and has budgeted Sh329 billion for salaries this year, is the Government wage bill falling?"

Opposition supporters were asked to "occupy" Harambee Avenue every Tuesday as long as the teachers' strike continues.

Raila said during the last year of Grand Coalition Government, the tax revenue was Sh807 billion. The published budget for Government wage bill for the current year, he added, is Sh329 billion contrary to the figures read by the President during his address to the nation.

"Even if we add county governments and parastatals, the figures tell a different story from the one the Jubilee Government is peddling. We must stand with the teachers against a government thriving on lies and theft," he said.

The employment and public wage for calendar year 2014 as published by Kenya National Bureau of Statistics shows that the national government was allocated Sh85 billion, teachers Sh145 billion, counties Sh62 billion and parastatals Sh77 billion, totalling to Sh370 billion which only accounts for 32 per cent of last year's revenue.

Wiper Leader Kalonzo Musyoka said if the Government is unable to pay teachers, it has put the country in the category of failed States.

"Failing to pay teachers is a symptom of a failed State. Education is a right of every Kenyan child and it's compulsory. Denying the children this right is worse than terrorism," said Kalonzo.

Narc-Kenya leader Martha Karua said the Jubilee administration should ensure it reduces corruption and wastage.

Karua castigated the President for allegedly threatening the courts through his address to the nation and said this could have a direct bearing on the ongoing cases.

"We can pay the teachers if only the Government reduces corruption and wastage. We should ensure that Jubilee government goes home by 2017," said Karua.

The Opposition claimed teachers and most Kenyans have lost patience with "a small clique that says the economy is booming, times are great, salaries are good and the Government is doing a great job".

Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) MPs John Mbadi (Suba), Jared Kopiyo (Awendo), Ishrad Sumra (Embakasi South), Timothy Bosire (Kitutu Masaba), Eseli Simiyu (Tongaren), Chris Wamalwa (Kimini), Ken Okoth (Kibra), Sylvance Osele (Kabondo/Kasipul), Fred Outa (Nyando), Gladys Wanga (Homa Bay Women Rep) and her counterparts Florence Mutua (Busia) and Rachael Ameso (Kakamega) among others demanded that teachers be paid and threatened to forge on with the impeachment motion if this isn't done.

"I have today filed an impeachment motion against President Kenyatta at the National Assembly. We are prepared to kick out the Jubilee administration out of office either through the impeachment motion or in the next General Election," said Mbadi.

The leaders who arrived for the rally at 1.37pm dismissed assertions by the Government that it does not have money to the pay teachers, saying a lot of money was being wasted in corrupt deals.

Rich and poor

Senators Boni Khalwale said the Government belongs to both the rich and poor.

"You have to be the President of the rich as well as the poor. Take our children back to school," said Khalwale.

Hassan Omar (Mombasa) Omar said it is worrying that the Head of State does not uphold the rule of law.

"If he does not listen to teachers he will be the first President to leave office before completing his term," said Omar.

Machakos Senator Johnston Muthama said it is shocking that the Jubilee Government,"a product of court", cannot not uphold the rule of law.

"He accepted the Supreme Court's verdict on the Presidential election but when the same court rules that teachers should be paid he says 'can't pay, won't pay," he said.

He accused President Kenyatta of failing to protect the Constitution, saying he is at the forefront in violating the same even after swearing to protect it.