Leaders call for dialogue to avert labour disputes

Kenyans have welcomed the suspension of the countrywide teachers’ strike that had paralysed learning over the last five weeks.

Religious leaders, teachers, candidates and residents in North Rift region also called on education stakeholders to embrace dialogue to avert labour disputes in future.

Clerics in Trans-Nzoia and West Pokot counties lauded Kenya National Union of Teachers (Knut) move to call off the strike saying this had threatened the education sector.

Led by Kitale Catholic Bishop Maurice Crowley who chairs the church education commission, the leaders praised the Knut officials saying they had made the right decision.

“We welcome the decision by Knut to call off the strike. It is a right decision and leaders should be mindful of the needs of children,” he said.

The cleric was optimistic that the strike will not affect the KCSE and KCPE results as candidates remained in school to revise.

Parents led by Trans-Nzoia Women Representative Janet Nangabo also supported the decision by the union to call off the strike saying the education of children had been affected.

Bishop Patrice Chumba of the African Inland Church North Rift area church council said with the resumption of duty by teachers, all Kenyans have won.

“Nobody should be victimised now that teachers have resumed duty. Teachers and learners should now work extra hard to recover for the time wasted during the strike,” Chumba said yesterday. He also called for dialogue between all parties in solving disputes in future.

Kipchumba Ruto, a resident of Eldoret said the return to duty by tutors will allow learners finish the syllabus especially candidates.

Prisca Bundotich, a business lady said the winners are the learners since they will have enough time to revise for their exams.

Samuel Kiarie also said the big winners are parents and learners.

Dominic Choge, a teacher said learners need teachers and the government should honour the court ruling and pay them to avoid industrial unrest in future.

Pertinent issues

And, Father Ambrose Kimutai of Segemik Parish in Bomet County  said the return of teachers to will children to continue with education.

Elsewhere, Murang’a Governor Mwangi wa Iria has welcomed Knut’s decision to call of the strike saying the education sector had suffered a lot. “We must look for a way to address pertinent issues facing education to ensure teachers’ strikes will be a thing of the past in the future,” said the governor

Mr Arthur Kamau, the chairman of Kenya Booksellers and Stationers observed that ending the strike was in the best interest of children, whose future depends on their education.

Maara MP Kareke Mbiuki commended teachers for the bold move, saying they showed they also cared for the children they teach.

– Reports by Osinde Obare, Titus Too, Charles Ng’eno and Job Weru