TSC denies withholding union dues

Kuppet Secretary-General Akello Misori (right) with his Knut counterpart Wilson Sossion (centre) and Knut Chairman Mudzo Nzili at the TSC headquarters in Nairobi on November 25, 2015. PHOTO | ANTHONY OMUYA | NATION MEDIA GROUP 

In Summary

• TSC head of communication Kamotho Kihumba said the Commission did not deduct union dues in the months of September, October and November saying the reasons are well known to Kenya National Union of Teachers (Knut) and Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (Kuppet) any dues.
• Knut collects about Sh1.6 billion per year with Sh135million being collected monthly from 206,000 primary school teachers while Kuppet with 34,000 teachers, currently collects about Sh35 million per month and Sh425million per year.

By OUMA WANZALA
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The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) on Friday said it does not owe teachers’ unions any dues.

TSC head of communication Kamotho Kihumba said the Commission did not deduct union dues in
the months of September, October and November saying the reasons are well known to Kenya National Union of Teachers (Knut) and Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (Kuppet) any dues.

“It is therefore, insincere for anybody to claim that TSC is withholding any money due to Knut or any other union as none was deducted in the first place,” said Mr Kihumba.

He said union dues amounting to Sh130 million deducted from the teachers’ August pay were released to Knut.

He went on: “It is already in the public domain that TSC and teachers unions have started talks to resolve several industrial issues, including union membership and dues.”

The two unions get more than Sh2billion annually as membership fee from about 240,000 out of 288,060 teachers across the country.

Knut collects about Sh1.6 billion per year with Sh135million being collected monthly from 206,000 primary school teachers while Kuppet with 34,000 teachers, currently collects about Sh35 million per month and Sh425million per year.

Statistics from the TSC indicate that about 48,060 teachers do not belong to any union and these are mostly school heads who are not required to be in unions.

He said the commission is eager to urgently address all industrial issues arising from the strike in order to fully normalise the teaching sub-sector.

“It is expected that all other parties involved will play their rightful role in addressing the issues,” said Mr Kihumba.

The two unions are set to hold their Annual delegates conference in December and have been crying foul of lack of money to run their activities.