By Erick Nyayiera
Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) has directed teachers to reject the government’s planned deduction of 1.5 per cent for the housing scheme terming it as a national lottery game.
The union National Chairman Omboko Milemba, who is also the MP for Emuhaya, told teachers that that the constitution gives powers to citizens to defend themselves whenever their rights are being threatened and use all possible legal means to reject the draconian scheme.
“This 1.5% deduction for the housing scheme was introduced originally in parliament and we were told the scheme was supposed to be 0.5% but we still shot down the bill. It was again sneaked together with the controversial tax bill on fuel. We are saying we won’t allow its implementation,” stated Milemba.
He noted that as a teachers union, they will exploit every possible means to ensure that the already overburdened teachers are not forced into the scheme.
“The housing scheme has no structure to manage it, it’s like a lottery and there is no guarantee that you will get a house including your next of kin,”
He read mischief in the manner in which the scheme is being forced on the throat of Kenyan workers noting that it was a very bad signal especially since the country has been treated to scandalous deals like the dam saga and a host of corruption cases where billions of shillings have been stolen.
He chairman was speaking during the Kakamega County Kenya Secondary Schools Heads Association (KESSHA) annual conference in Kisumu city.
He claimed that the management of the infrastructure funding by ministry officials was marred by blatant bias as schools in some regions continue benefiting yet other schools get nothing.
The Ministry of Education has a budget of Sh1.2 billion to cater for the infrastructure in schools, of these Sh300 million is set for the infrastructure in national schools and the balance is distributed across other public schools on needs based criteria.
“We call upon Cabinet Secretary for Education to move with speed and correct the habitual anomaly at the headquarters and ensure all schools are given the infrastructure funds,” he said.
He promised to take a Bill in Parliament that will ensure Sh20 billion is allocated for the infrastructure development in schools for the success of the 100% transition policy.
The chairman appealed to the government to increase capitation per student.
The MP also claimed that the sports fund now managed by the Ministry of Education has become a cash cow for officials.
He was accompanied by the Kakamega County KUPPET Executive Secretary Harrison Otota, who said that the union was setting up hostel facilities in Sigalaga area as part of income generating activity for the branch.
