By Roy Hezron
Kenya Union of Pre-Primary Education Teachers (KUNOPPET) has stated that it will head to court on February 6, 2023 to challenge the proposed salaries by Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) for Early Childhood Development Education (ECDE) teachers saying that they are way below the minimum wage.
Addressing the press on February 5, 2023 in Nairobi, the union officials accused SRC for undermining ECDE teachers.
The Union National Chairman Lawrence Otunga said that SRC came up with the salaries without involving the union who are the primary stakeholders in ECDE sector.
“They intentionally sidelined and refused to involve us in their consultative meetings. They ended up coming with a salary structure for ECDE Teachers which is intended to affect our members negatively,” said Otunga.
His sentiments were echoed by the union Secretary General Samuel Opiyo who stated that some counties such as Homa Bay have already effected the new salaries.
The Secretary General urged all ECDE teachers to remain calm and continue discharging their duties as they’re pursuing a legal avenue to address the matter.
Opiyo added that in 2021, the Council of Governors disregarded SRC directives on the salary structures for EDCDE teachers and instead used the approved Scheme of Service to pay the teachers.
According to the SRC salary structure, a qualified Assistant ECDE Teacher III is supposed to earn Ksh 7,836 on the minimum and Ksh 8,717 on the maximum as basic salary.
For Diploma holders, SRC proposes an earning of Ksh 15,224 on the minimum and Ksh 19,064 on the maximum.
