Kenya National Union of Teachers, (KNUT) demands a 60 per cent salary increment for teachers, as the current Collective Bargaining agreement (CBA) near end on June 30.
Speaking at the burial of former KNUT secretary General in Kirinyaga County Harrison Muriithi Gichira on Tuesday, June 3, in Ndia constituency, ) Knut Deputy Secretary General Hesbon Otieno said that the 2021 CBA ends in June this month after finishing its cycle and negotiations for a new CBA will start 1st July this year.
“As KNUT we have forwarded a new CBA as the 2021 is coming to an end come this June since it has already finished its cycle, starting 1st July that is when new negotiations for a new CBA will start, our proposal has already started and the SRC should speed up to ensure that no delays,” said Otieno
Otieno confirmed that teachers will not accept anything less than 60 percent on the salaries and also 30 percent on allowances failure to that they will take industrial action.
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He stated that the Teacher’s Service commission should take their grievances seriously to avert looming strike of their demands are not met as per CBA.
The union also faulted the government for scraping hardship allowances in some certain areas a move that has affected a number of teachers.
“Let the government not touch the hardship allowance of teachers, if they dare all teachers will be on the streets protesting,” said Otieno.
On capitation, he urged the government to stop endangering education sector wondering how head teachers will run the institution, urging the government to take education seriously.
“The government should sent to schools first term 50 percent, Second term 30 percent , and third term it should be 20 percent, but has failed to follow the procedure, leaving schools in dire states,” Otieno said.
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He said that if the government is using NEMIS that is denying institutions money, KEMIS is starting being operational in July to ensure that the allocation is well done for a smooth running.
“Imagine a school that got Ksh 87 and another Ksh 4,000 how is the head teacher expected to run the institution?”-We also understand that the government is using NEMIS when it comes to allocation that has denied many schools the money needed, let the government then give the right allocation when it start using KEMIS,” he continued.
Otieno also said that the examination money that was not allocated, should be done to Kenya National examination Council.
He affirmed that KNUT will ensure that teachers are not oppressed by taxes, stating that teacher taxes are deducted direct from the TSC.
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“If a teacher is never late in paying taxes why then should they receive bad treatment from the government,” Wondered Otieno.
He further said that the promoted teachers should be issued with their letters, and the promotion should be done in a transparency manner citing some teachers have stagnated in the same job group for over 10 years.
“National assembly was able to establish that promotions of teachers were not done in a transparent manner, next time when such an exercise is on let TSC consider promoting teachers who have stagnated in the same job group for over 10 years,” he added.
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KNUT first Vice Chairman Joseph Langat has also castigated government over delayment of schools Capitation saying it has affected smooth running in public schools.
Lagat has petitioned members of parliament to ensure they will allocate more money in 2025/2026 budget for education sector.
He expressed concerns over insecurity cases in Kerio Valley region calling on interior cabinet secretary to enhance security in the area in a bid to protect the lives of Kenyans living there.
He stated that insecurity has affected learning in several schools where teachers and learners are living in fear of continued banditry attacks.
By Jane Mugambi
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