Teachers' pressure group demands action on pay increases

Teachers have voiced serious concerns over the government's handling of issues affecting educators across Kenya.

In a strongly worded press statement issued on Thursday, the Chairperson of the Teachers' Pressure Group Kinyua Mwangi called for urgent action to address delays in promised pay increases, ‘illegal’ deductions, and the overworking of teachers.

Mr Mwangi warned that failure to do so could lead to industrial action.

He highlighted that the government, through the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC), had approved a salary increment for teachers beginning in July 2023, intended to last until July 2024. 

This pay rise was meant to cushion teachers from the financial strain in the wake of new levies.

However, Mr Mwangi criticised the government's decision to halt the increment, calling it an act of bad faith. 

He argued that with the levies already in place, the withdrawal of the pay rise is unjustified and detrimental to teachers who are already financially burdened.

"The delay or denial of the promised pay rise is both uncalled for and in bad faith," Mr Mwangi said.

He added that teachers need the money paid, whether through parliamentary committee recommendations, industrial action, or SRC's autonomic goodwill and action.

The group has further warned that failing to implement the 2023/2024 SRC-awarded increment would exacerbate the already low morale among teachers, potentially leading to unnecessary industrial unrest within the profession.

Another major issue raised by Mr Mwangi is the illegal deduction labelled as the Building Bridges Fund (BBF), which is reportedly being deducted from teachers' payslips without their consent.

He accused the Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (Kuppet) and the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) of orchestrating these deductions, which he claims are being enforced despite teachers' attempts to stop them.

"The Kenyan teachers' payslip is the most salivated-upon document in this country and is being arbitrarily vandalised in the name of BBF. This illegal deduction must be stopped forthwith, and the money refunded to teachers," he said.

He also called attention to the growing workload faced by educators.

To this, the group has urged the government to expedite the confirmation of 46,000 Junior Secondary School (JSS) teachers and the recruitment of an additional 20,000 teachers, as recently promised.

This, Mr Mwangi argued, is necessary to alleviate the harsh working conditions that have been exacerbated by recent cuts into teachers' salaries.

Finally, Mwangi expressed his loss of confidence in the current teachers' unions, stating that educators no longer recognise these bodies as effective representatives.

As a result, he vowed to seek redress directly through parliamentary, senate, labour, and education committees, and if necessary, through the labour courts and other legal avenues.

"The existing teaching force is grossly overworked," he stated, underscoring the urgency of his demands.

With the situation escalating, he has warned that if their concerns are not addressed promptly, industrial action may be inevitable, further disrupting the already strained education sector in Kenya.