For those who have never gone to Mars recently, will attest to the fact that, there is no love lost between the teachers of Kenya and their employer, Teachers Service Commission, TSC.

The Kenyan teacher is simply an object of ridicule, a pawper who slaves to enlighten a nation, that loves shortcuts to wealth, worships corruption, and quick education progress through cheating, greedy and hedonistic in nature, anyway, as a teacher today l write, knowing that I will rub people the wrong way.

In the year 2015 and part of 2016, the Kenya teacher locked horns wit their employer TSC, in grueling court proceedings, through their formidable unions, led by the giant Knut Kenya and KUPPET, whereupon, the teachers through Justice Nduma Nderi, got a reprieve.

The court directed TSC to consider implementing a basic salary hike for all Kenyan teachers, with the lowest paid teacher going home with at least ,60% rise, and the highest paid teacher pocketing at least a 50% increment, respectively, this is simply because, teachers were and still are the lowest and poorly paid public servants, in Kenya....

For those who just dismiss teaching as just a noisemakers job, there are many things you may not know, about teachers, before cursing them, blaming them, even after throwing our children at them, the children they have to instruct, nurse, nurture and guide, as we go on with our daily duties.

A typical Kenyan teacher is a slave of learners, parents, state, the general public, and TSC.

He is a source of information, fountain of knowledge, foster parent, first aider, counselor, guide, arbitrator, a role model, preacher, sports coach, stage producer, diplomat, protector, discipline promoter, documenter, entertainer, MC, administrator, facilitator, examiner, judge....the list is long.

The same poorly paid teacher is expected to work in any environment, never engage in business, a subject they teach or any extra activities, likely to make him earn an extra coin.

If he dedicates his extra time to boost the slow learners, and the parents decide to reward him, that is a felony. He may simply lose his "noble" job.

The Kenyan teacher is simply pressured public servant who swallows antacids, abuses painkillers daily.

Many succumb to heart attack, stroke, diabetes, hypertension, kidney diseases, while others choose suicide.

If today you took a survey, you will realise that over 70% per cent of the tutors will gladly quit teaching if they had an alternative.

The lowest paid teachers starts with a basic pay of Sh16,692 while a graduate starts with Sh31,000. These figures must be taxed, remember...

These teachers, don't forget, are parents, spouses, opinion leaders, sometimes the most learned people in their villages and neighbourhood, expected to give back to the society, through school fees, funeral, and church harambees.

They simply need to be everywhere, all times and expected to work even during weekends.

The fight for better pay for teachers has been a topic for quite some time now, leading to boycotts, threats and rights abuse, like salary stoppage by TSC.

After a protracted court battle between teachers, last year, the unions and TSC signed a Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), that promised to slightly increase teachers pay, as from July 2017.

However, the sad news is that the budget committee, working with the treasury, did not factor in any funds, for teachers salary increment, meaning the CBA may not be honored after all.

Talk of betrayal, yet the government expects the teachers to smile and work harder daily....

The pain of being a Kenyan teacher.