Kenyatta to meet teachers over pay

President Uhuru Kenyatta is scheduled to meet with officials of teachers’ unions andMinistry of Education in a bid to resolve the current education impasse occasioned by the ongoing teachers’ strike.This is the first time President Kenyatta is addressing the strike that has been ongoing for the past two weeks. Hours after touching down in Nairobi from his official visit to Milan, Italy, President Kenyatta has moved to break the impasse that is threatening theeducation system in the country. President Kenyatta, whose office has not spoken about the matter, is expected to meet teachers’ unions and other stakeholders to try to find a middle ground.The issue is already in court with the teachers’ employer TSC seeking to have the strike declared illegal. TSC has written warning letters to 5,000 teachers mainly school heads to show cause as to why they are not performing their duties. On the other hand, KUPPET and KNUT have insisted that the 50-60% salary increment that was awarded to teachers by the court of appeal must be effected for the month of August. A court sitting in Nairobi is set to give a ruling on the case next week.