Fresh strike looms as schools re-open

As schools reopen today, the Kenya National Union of Teachers plans to call its 278,000 members to strike to demand promotions for those who have attained higher academic qualifications.

Despite the strike threat, parents in numerous towns across the country were shopping for books and uniforms as they prepared to take their children back to school.

Contacted by the Nation on Sunday, union secretary-general Wilson Sossion said the National Executive Council would meet this morning at Knut headquarters in Nairobi to announce the commencement of the strike.

“We are not going to have regional representatives from the counties because we were given the green light to call a strike during the Knut AGM held in Nakuru last year. Even the SG can call a strike and therefore we are going on strike tomorrow,” he said.

Education principal secretary Belio Kipsang urged union officials to appreciate that promoting teachers is not an event but a process.

“The union is very much aware of the difficult situation the ministry is facing in terms of resources. A strike notice will only aggravate the situation when we have even invited them for dialogue,” he said in an interview with the Daily Nation.

He challenged Knut to give dialogue a chance instead of issuing strike threats.

LAST MINUTE SHOPPING

Sunday, parents were busy preparing to take their children back to school for the first term of the year. Shops and supermarkets were opened for business although it was a Sunday as they sought to cash in on last minute shopping for shoes, uniforms, books and other supplies.

In Mombasa, a Nation spot-check at most of the central business district book and uniform shops indicated brisk sales of books, stationery and uniforms for different schools in the county and its environs.

Students travelling to boarding schools had a hectic time finding transport to Kaloleni, Malindi, Voi, Wundanyi, Taveta, Tarasaa and Lamu due to the ongoing public service vehicles crisis sparked by a ban on night travel to reduce accidents.

In western Kenya, bus stations, bookshops, supermarkets and open air markets were flooded with shoppers as people flocked to do their last minute purchases of essential school items.

Businesses in Kisumu, Kisii, Busia, Bomet and Kakamega cashed in on the back-to-school rush. Many parents bought items in printed lists supplied by schools.

Nakumatt, Tumaini, Ukwala and Tuskys supermarkets in Kisumu were crowded as early as 8am.

Book sellers made good business for the current examinable anthologies and novels with prices increased by more than Sh50 because of the high demand.

Mrs Penina Awiti complained of the increase in the prices of books. She said she had travelled from Homa Bay to Kisumu believing she could get a bargain.

And in Bomet County, parents flocked supermarkets to buy various items for their children.

Uniform dealers also made booming business. Parents queued for last minute purchases ahead of today’s start of the first term this year.

Some of the parents interviewed accused headteachers of raising school fees without notifying them.

FARED HIKED

Because of the high demand for public transport, matatus raised fares with operators on some routes charging as much as three times the normal fares.

In Nairobi, bus companies took advantage of the back-to-school rush to raise fares for various destinations.

“Fares to Machakos have doubled. I normally pay Sh200 but today they are demanding Sh400,” said Ms Margaret Ngila, who was preparing to board a bus at the Machakos country bus station.

Bus operators blamed the night travel ban for the price increase.

In Nakuru, public transport firms had a busy day due to the large number of travellers. Scores of people carrying travelling bags headed to and from various bus stops.

If teachers go on strike this month, this will be the second time in less than a year that Knut has called a strike.

Learning was paralysed in September last year when teachers went on strike demanding a pay raise under a deal which they said was signed 1997 between the union and President Daniel arap Moi.

They also asked that they start receiving commuter, house and medical allowances. The strike lasted four weeks.

And last month, teachers boycotted marking national exams to demand higher allowances. The Kenya National Examinations Council ruled out an increase in allowances, saying only teachers willing to accept the terms would be hired.

The boycott delayed the release of KCPE results which are traditionally released on December 27. Last year, they were released on December 31.