Mandera stand-off hurting students

It is six weeks now, and the impasse between the Government and teachers who teach in northern Kenya schools remains unresolved. This is affecting the pupils and students in that part of the country.

The concerns being raised by the teachers who have refused to go back are genuine and must be addressed not by threats, but soberly. It is true insecurity is rampant in some parts of North Eastern region. The teachers are traumatised by the events of late last year that saw some of their colleagues murdered in cold blood by heartless and trigger-happy gunmen who only targeted people from a particular religion.

Having been born and raised by a teacher, I know how dedicated a teacher is. My late mother, despite earning peanuts, used to sleep late in the night or wake up very early in the morning to mark pupils' homework and prepare the scheme of work for the next day.

She could come home late just to ensure that her pupils got 'haki yao', education. That is how dedicated teachers are. Some are given nicknames depending on how they handle pupils and students. Some are hated for being tough. But that does not deter them from taking good care of the children under their care.

When I watched and listened to the teachers' grievances on television, I was shocked. The freedom of worship seems to have been ignored in some parts of this country. A lady teacher told of how they are forced to dress like Muslims, almost being forced to practise Islam. She said and I quote, we are proud of our country.

We are teachers and can work anywhere. We are happy working in North Eastern, but do they want us to convert to Islam to work there?" she posed bitterly.

As much as the teachers' action to abscond duty at their stations is hurting the innocent children in northern Kenya, the Government is making the situation worse by issuing threats and denying them their salary.

The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) is the employer of teachers and it is within their mandate to punish any teacher just like every other employer would. However, employees too have rights and a good employer must always sit down and listen to any grievances raised by the employees.

On this, the TSC has failed. Instead of listening to the teachers, the TSC has neglected and left them to politicians who trade accusations without giving any meaningful solution to the problem. The teachers have been camping outside the TSC headquarters in Upper Hill for one and a half month now but no one, not even the secretary to the TSC Secretary has been able to get out and listen to their cries.

On the other hand, the Government continues to issue directives and ultimatums that the teachers should go back to their places of work or get sacked and replaced immediately.

Interior and National Co-ordination Cabinet Secretary Gen (rtd) Joseph Nkaissery has been telling them to resume duty simply because DO's, police officers, public health officers and other senior Government officers have resumed duty. For heaven's sake, these officers are either armed or are chauffeured in GK vehicles.

Teachers walk on foot to school. On the other hand, National Assembly Majority Leader Aden Duale has been urging the Government to sack the teachers who have refused to resume duty in North Eastern and replace them with willing ones.

One thing Mr Duale fails to understand is that the communities which were affected by the Mandera killings are still hurting to date and the use of harsh words on the teachers makes parents think twice about their children getting posted to some parts of the country.

This is a unitary state and every Kenyan has the right to live and work in any part of the country. However, the kind of talk from those in power regarding this issue is worrying, which begs for a lasting solution from the President.

President Uhuru Kenyatta needs to have a session with these teachers, just like he would with artistes who recite nice poems and those who draw his portrait neatly.

As the President, his word to these teachers will calm them down and persuade them to resume duty. After all, teachers are always friendly to their pupils and students and they know how to make them recover the lost time. The students and pupils are hurting. They are used to their teachers and this is affecting them psychologically.