TEACHERS STRIKE CONTINUES BUT TSC WARNS THEM

Teachers across the country on Thursday kept away from classrooms for the fourth day as they continued pressuring the government to increase their salaries.

Some parents are hiring the same teachers on strike to tutor their children at home.

In Kirinyaga, more than 4,000 striking teachers from Kirinyaga County were on Thursday warned against taking to the streets over pay.

County commissioner Joseph Keter declared that teachers found disrupting peace will be dealt with ruthlessly.

He instructed the police to break up demonstrations and arrest any teacher found causing chaos.

“Teachers caught barricading roads or harassing road users must be arrested and prosecuted,” he told the press after a security meeting at his Kerugoya office.

In Nyeri, teachers in public primary schools were told they would be denied payment for the week they have stayed away from classrooms.

Nyeri County TSC director Kinoti Imanyara said that since no learning was taking place in the county primary schools, the teachers would not be paid.

“Teachers will not be paid as they have not reported to work despite the numerous calls from the commission,” he said.

In Mombasa, some parents have now turned to tuition services for their children in an effort to keep them busy as the teachers strike entered the fourth day.

Kenya National Association of Parents (Knap) Mombasa branch chairman Edson Mwasela said parents whose children are candidates for this year’s national exams have hired tutors.

“Parents are using the same teachers on strike to tutor their children,” Mr Mwasela said.

Meanwhile, the Kenya Union of Post Primary Teachers Education (Kuppet) Makueni branch has joined in the nationwide strike.

Speaking at a hotel in Wote on Wednesday the Makueni secretary-general Justus Kimeu said that the government offered increment on allowances instead of adding their salaries.

Mr  Kimeu said that the union would inspect all schools in the county to ensure that all teachers comply with the strike.

PRAYERS

In Machakos, TSC County Director of Education Stephen Mudho urged teachers unions to accept the government’s offer.

In Tharaka Nithi, Kuppet members held prayers at the Gospel Outreach Church in Chuka Town.

The prayers were meant to “unite members at this difficult time”.

Union official Flamwel Nyaga read the story of the Israelites’ journey from Egypt to the promised land of Canaan saying teachers need to be as determined as Jews were during Exodus.