Students walk in Nairobi streets on September 19, 2015 after government
closed schools over teachers strike. The Teachers Service Commission is
withholding about Sh8 billion that is supposed to remit to various
financial institutions for credit facilities offered to teachers. PHOTO |
ANTHONY OMUYA | NATION MEDIA GROUP
The Teachers Service Commission is withholding about Sh8 billion
that is supposed to remit to various financial institutions for credit
facilities offered to teachers.
Kenya National Union
of Teachers secretary general Wilson Sossion yesterday accused the
commission of embarrassing teachers by failing to remit the deductions
in order to force them to work.
“They deducted these
billions from teachers and are sitting on the money. We demand an
explanation on why they have not paid third parties that includes banks,
saccos, education schemes among others yet they have the money,” said
Mr Sossion.
He said that those servicing bank loans are
likely to be at loggerheads with the financial institutions for failing
to honour their obligations.
The commission spends Sh14.5 billion as salaries and allowances for 288,060 teachers a month.
Mr Sossion said the unions have also been denied their dues.
At
the moment, Knut with 206,000 members, collects about Sh1.6 billion a
year while Sh135million is collected monthly from primary schools
teachers. Kuppet with 34,000 teachers currently collects about Sh35
million per month and Sh425 million a year.
“In August
teachers were not on strike but the commission has declined to give us
our dues. These are some of strategies aimed at frustrating us but we
will not be intimidated,” said Mr Sossion.
Workers at the union’s headquarters are yet to be paid their salaries due to the crisis.
Workers at the union’s headquarters are yet to be paid their salaries due to the crisis.
The commission has also warned that it will not pay teachers their September salaries.
When
reached for comment, the commission’s chairperson, Dr Lydia Nzomo, said
she will have to look at the records before making a comment.
Meanwhile,
in Laikipia County, teachers are in panic after the government withheld
salary remissions to teachers’ saccos adversely affecting all sacco
activities.
Unison Sacco, formerly Laikipia Teachers
Sacco yesterday resolved to solve fresh issuance of all normal and long
term loans until the government releases all salaries.
A
member and Kuppet Laikipia Executive Secretary Ndung’u Wangenye said
the decision affects all its members on government payroll citing the
government’s decision to withhold salaries.
Earlier,
advance payments had been halted temporarily awaiting further directions
from the government but the non-remittance could adversely affect sacco
operations as even non-teachers’ sacco members could panic leading to
sudden withdrawals.
Mr Wangenye urged 5,500 teachers to remain steadfast saying the union would fight to the last man.
Also
affected are loan repayments that are the lifeline of saccos with the
sacco deciding to halt all land acquisition loans, study loans,
emergency loan, among other products.
Meanwhile, Knut senior officials have tripled their daily allowances and salaries.
In
a letter dated January 3, 2015, to senior Knut staff in Nairobi,
secretary general Wilson Sossion, increased allowances and salaries for
union officials. The ten trustees are being paid Sh70,500 from Sh27,400.
Mr
Sossion in the letter said the allowances are for officers travelling
within the country and cover accommodation, subsistence and incidental
expenses.
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