The Kenya Union for Post Primary Education Teachers (Kuppet) and the Kenya National Union of Teachers (Knut) have called on the government to ensure security of teachers following increasing attacks on them by students in schools.
Kuppet National chairman Omboko Milemba and the Knut deputy national treasurer James Ndiku said just like the government was fast in taking action on teachers when they abuse students, the same should apply when teachers are attacked by students.
The two who were speaking in separate functions in Iten during the Keiyo branch Kuppet and Knut elections called on the government to compensate teachers who were injured while on duty.
They also called on the government to ensure that peace and normalcy are restored in Kapedo and other areas experiencing violence saying this was affecting learning.
Milemba who was at Sacred Heart Primary School said Kuppet would sign a new Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) this year saying this time, they would ensure that teachers in the lower cadre get 100% salary increment in addition to getting housing allowance and an enhanced medical cover.
He said he had successfully moved a motion in Parliament to ensure that teachers in TVET institutions who were left out in the last CBA were included.
On his part, Ndiku regretted that teachers who remained in Knut never benefitted from the CBA saying this was the worst form of discrimination.
Ndiku thanked teachers who remained in the Knut despite the frustrations and called on those who left to rejoin the union saying this was the only body which effectively fights for their welfare without fear.
He thanked teachers who turned in their numbers for the elections at Iten day secondary school saying that was a clear indication that Knut was still a force to reckon with.
He however said Knut respects the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) which they helped create saying they were not enemies but all they were asking was for TSC not to discriminate against teachers who were in the union.
The deputy national treasurer also called on the government to consider giving teachers a risk allowance saying they were more at risk of contracting covid-19 from learners than doctors and nurses.
“The teachers are always in contact with learners without knowing who is sick or not, yet they don’t even have any personal protection equipment,” he said.
The two union leaders called on the government to ensure that schools are supplied with masks and hand washing facilities to contain the spread of the virus in the learning institutions.
Milemba called on the government to disburse all the remaining free education funds to schools to enable the run normally.
By Alice Wanjiru
