Teachers Asked to Delay Strike and Wait for Revised Finance Bill
Teachers across the nation have been encouraged to delay their planned strike to allow the government and parliament sufficient time to pass a revised finance bill that includes provisions for their salary increase.
Gem Member of Parliament, Elisha Odhiambo, highlighted that the government’s options are currently limited following the rejection of Finance Bill 2024 and the subsequent court dismissal of the 2023 Finance Bill.
He stressed the importance of moderation in the demands made by teachers and urged them to give parliament the opportunity to fulfill its legislative duties.
While addressing attendees at Nyangulu Secondary School in East Gem Ward, where he handed over a new school bus, Odhiambo emphasized the need for patience.
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He reported that teachers should proceed cautiously and allow parliament to pass the revised 2024 finance bill, assuring them that they would receive their payments in arrears once the bill is passed. This event was also attended by Gem Yala Deputy County Commissioner, John Otieno.
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Odhiambo explained that no nation could function without taxes and reassured that the revised finance bill would exclude the controversial taxes that had sparked recent protests.
“I want to ask teachers. Let us take things slowly. Allow us as parliament to pass the reviewed finance bill 2024 and you will be paid in arrears” said Odhiambo.
He mentioned that only taxes on bread and sanitary pads had been contested, and expressed confidence that the new Treasury Cabinet Secretary, John Mbadi, would soon introduce a bill that would be acceptable to all Kenyans.
Meanwhile, the Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) has issued a strike notice to the Teachers Service Commission (TSC), stating that industrial action would begin on August 26 if the 2021-2025 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) is not implemented.
Key issues in the CBA include the conversion of Junior Secondary School teachers and the recruitment of 20,000 teachers on permanent and pensionable terms.
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Additionally, the union has accused TSC of violating the agreement by failing to implement the second phase of the Addendum, which took effect on July 1, 2024, covering basic salaries and allowances for all teachers.
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Teachers Asked to Delay Strike and Wait for Revised Finance Bill
