Bungoma Teachers against Salaries and Remuneration Commission Bill

Written by Saenyi Daniel and Eric Lumbasi 2011-05-19 18:42:00 Read 198 Times

Bungoma teachers during their KNUT elections held at Kanduyi Stadium. Photos/ West Fm/File. Bungoma Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) has faulted the Salaries and Remuneration Commission Bill that seeks to determine the salaries of teachers. If the bill is passed, teachers will be classified as state officers and not public officers as they currently are. The bills will literally make the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) the ultimate power over teachers. Many teachers are against the bill are hopefully wishing for it to fail so the teachers are left in peace. The union finds it completely erroneous, misleading and even unconstitutional to state that the Salaries and Remuneration Commission will have automatic powers and mandate to set or determine teachers’ salaries. Bungoma County teachers expressed their objections about the bill and made clear that they are fully supportive of KNUT and they are ready to fight for their rights beside it. Mr. Mwelu Wasilwa, a primary school teacher said that the bill should not pass in any way because the teachers will be left alone with no representation. “This bill will be used to make us powerless and we won’t be able to fight for our rights. First, the government has not implemented the 20per cent salary increment and with the bill passing means we as teachers can say goodbye to any salary increment in future. This bill was basically proposed for individual gain of the bigger powers because they do not want any rivalry from the KNUT,” he said. Same sentiments were raised by Mr. Wycliffe Oduor, a primary school teacher who said the bill was meant to make teachers weaker by getting rid of their strong arm. He insisted that the government should give strong reasons for disbanding KNUT. “Teachers are very strong and this move is aimed at destroying them. They should give us reasons as to why they want to push this bill. They want to kill the star of teachers becoming Members of Parliament like the Bumula legislator Bifwoli Wakoli. If the bill should pass and I hope it doesn’t, they should provide us with a scheme of service equivalent to the needs of the workers. I urge other teachers to listen to the voice of the union officials because they are our representatives.” Mrs.Clesensia Kakai, a primary school teacher, said that the government should seek opinions before making such vital decisions on behalf of teachers since they are the ones affected. She added the union should be left alone since it is an independent body that fights for their welfare such as promotions allowances and salary increments. “KNUT is our lawyer and it should be left alone for the sake of teachers. The government should ask for our opinions before making decisions on our behalf.” Mr. Edward Kapanga, a head teacher, said the union officials are paid by the teachers and not the Teachers Service Commission, so the government should even interfere with it. He added that KNUT is like lens for the teachers that protects them against any foul play. “First of all, KNUT should be left alone by the government; it’s the only body that protects teachers against any mischief. I ask that many MPs join forces with the KNUT to vote against the bill because it’s the only way that we as teachers lay out grievances. Mr. Kennedy Nganga, the Executive Secretary of KNUT in Bungoma south said that the bill has proposed with the aim of gagging the Kenya National Union of Teachers. He insisted that the bill should be revisited and revised so that KNUT will not be stripped off its powers. “This bill will classify teachers as normal civil servants and they won’t be able to air their grievances. In the case of the bill passing teachers will be begging for salary increments’ all their lives in vain. The role of the commission must remain that of advisory capacity because TSC is required to register trained teachers and recruit and employ the registered teachers.; they should not be given the power to speak on behalf of teachers because an employer can’t be a lawyer to his/her employees. We as the KNUT have spoken to teacher friendly Members of Parliament like Hon. Wakoli, Hon. Wetangula and Hon. David Eseli Simiyu and asked them to come together and fight against the bill in parliament,” said Mr.Nganga Earlier, KNUT officials asked Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka, the Chair of House Business Committee to ensure the Bill was re-drafted to factor their interests. However, Kalonzo required them to consult widely and offer their proper legal opinion whether they are State officers or public officers Subsequently, the Kenya National Union of Teachers (Knut), in a letter to President Kibaki, criticised the government for failing to include it in the drafting of the Salaries and Remuneration Commission Bill. It said that was a breach of its rights as provided for in the Constitution. The union cited Section 12 (c), (d) and (j) of the Bill, saying it went against the provisions of Article 230 (4) of the Constitution that stipulated the powers of the proposed salaries commission. The Ministry of State for Public Affairs, which the union said was responsible for the salaries legislation, was advised to scrap the section from the Bill and replace it with a provision that “authorises the commission to advise and not to set the salaries and remuneration”.