Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) has reiterated it will call for a National strike should the Government not heed their calls of releasing the capitation fund meant to ensure the day to day running of the schools.
The union claims that most of the school heads were facing hard times including beckoning court cases by suppliers who have threatened to take any action to recover their money.
Speaking at Kiambu township Primary school during a by-election for the Kiambu East branch to elect Chairman and women representative ,Deputy National Treasurer Kennedy Nyamwanda warned that business will not be as usual since the Government had decided to turn a blind eye on the issue despite numerous calls to address the issue.
On the Promotion of teachers, Nyamwanda noted that the appraisals were not done in a transparent manner accusing the Teachers Service Commission of discrimination and not considering all avenues for the same saying the matter should be addressed as urgent.
They further called for the employment of all interns into permanent and Pensionable schemes saying they were suffering silently and the number that had been slotted for employment was very low.
The unionists noted with concern increased cases of mental illness among teachers saying the rocketing high cost of living was pushing teachers into a corner where most of them were left with no option but either to commit suicide or go mentally unstable.
During the much well-attended election Mercy Chege was elected the chairperson of the branch flooring two other contestants while Alice Wanjiru got the Women Rep seat.
Tom Kimani
