Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) Eldama Ravine Executive Secretary, Mr. Francis Bundotich has hit out at the national government over the Finance Bill 2023 that requires all public servants to contribute 3% towards the national housing levy.
He argued that if passed by the parliament, it will burden teachers who are currently earning meagre pay owing to the ineffective Collective Bargaining Agreements signed earlier in addition to teachers already having their own houses.
“We are not supporting the government’s plan to deduct our teachers’ salaries. We are in fact urging the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) to honour the teachers’ Collective Bargaining Agreements signed by unions and also employ more teachers to bridge the deficit in schools,” said Bundotich
Addressing the Bartek Investment Cooperative Society 8th AGM held at Boresha Sacco Conference Hall in Eldama Ravine sub county, Baringo County, Mr Bundotich regretted that teachers’ payslips have been strained due to over taxation including Pay As You Earn (PAYE), National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF), National Social Security Fund (NSSF) and now the housing levy.
On teachers’ retirement benefits, Bundotich called on TSC to process teachers’ pensions instead of transferring its mandate to the pension scheme and the national treasury where the process is tiresome and bureaucratic.
“The Kenya National Union of Teachers wants TSC to process our pension dues instead of subjecting them to a pension scheme that has been marred by corruption deals,” stated the unionist.
By Enock Kipturgut
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