Nairobi, Kenya: The Kenya
National Union of Teachers (Knut) wants Sh54 billion set aside to finance
the Jubilee pledge of laptops for primary school pupils diverted to pay
teachers’ allowances.
Knut warned of a nationwide
paralysis of public schools next week if the government does not provide Sh47
billion required to pay teachers’ allowances contested since 1997.
Chairman Wilson
Sossion demanded that the laptop billions be used to fi nance harmonization
of teachers’ house, medical and commuter allowances.
“If the government can allocate Sh53.6 billion to fund the laptop project
(for the next three years), then they can also finance the harmonised
allowances for teachers,” Sossion told a press briefing in Nairobi Wednesday.
He described the Sh4 billion Parliament slashed from other State agencies
and set aside for teachers’ welfare as a “joke” saying the strike is
inevitable.
If the more than 200, 000 members of Knut down their tools the public sector
could be thrown into turmoil in the early days of President Kenyatta’s
administration.
Wednesday, Kenyatta
National Hospital employees downed their tools over pay, joining secondary
school teachers and civil servants who are agitating for higher perks.
Sossion added that teachers require Sh47 billion to have their house,
commuter and medical allowances harmonised. Knut wants the Government to
honour their signed Collective Bargain Agreement (CBA) of 1997 before the end
of this month.
Four-year cycle
This is because Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) had earlier
warned that if all CBAs are not implemented by June 30, then they will be
treated as null and void. SRC wrote to various civil servants’ unions that all
current CBAs expire at the end of this month to allow for new CBAs with a
four-year review cycle.
Sossion accused the State of engaging in theatrics and connivance. He
further pointed an accusing finger at the Government for allegedly using a
separate union to diffuse the agenda.
“We are seeing machinations and
theatrics by the Government. What we are asking for is money or we stay out of
classrooms until the money is paid in full. The money allocated for purchase of
laptops should be transferred to teachers,” said Sossion.
According to Sossion, the Government
is using its rival, Kuppet, to frustrate its course.
He said the Treasury must transfer
tutors’ Sh47 billion allowances to the Teachers Service Commission within ten
days from today failure to which they will down their tools. And should the
Government yield to this demand, then the budgetary allocation for laptops
would only be left with Sh8.3 billion to implement the Jubilee manifesto.
“If the State can allocate Sh53.6
billion to fund the laptop project, then they can also finance the harmonised
allowances for teachers. We are not opposed to laptops but want the Government
not to substitute teachers with the laptops,” warned Sossion.
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