HOMA BAY, Kenya, Feb 21 – Early Childhood Development Education (ECDE) teachers in Homa Bay staged protests after the County Government slashed their salaries.
They said that the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) had made retrogressive recommendations, which reduced their salaries.
Through their umbrella body, the Kenya Union of Pre Primary Education Teachers (KUNOPPET), the teachers called for immediate rescinding of the SRC recommendations.
The ECDE teachers complained that the SRC recommendations have subjected them to financial ruin. The pay review was effected on the salaries they earned in January this year.
Prior to the implementation of the salary review, a teacher with a bachelor’s degree was paid Sh41, 000 but this has been reduced to Sh23,000 in line with the SRC recommendation.
A teacher with Diploma used to earn Sh33, 000 but they are now getting Sh19, 000, while those with certificates were getting Sh27, 000 but they are now earning about Sh10, 000.
KUNOPPET officials appealed to Governor Gladys Wanga to rescind the implementation of the SRC recommended salaries. The union’s national Chairman Lawrence Otunga said they had given the county government one week to act on the matter.
“We are appealing to the Governor to prevail upon this matter so that ECDE teachers get the salaries they were getting before the review was undertaken. We want this to be done in the next one week so that teachers can earn the salaries they deserve,” Otunga said.
The teachers threatened to down their tools if the pay cut is not reviewed.
Speaking today during a meeting with the teachers in Rodi Kopany township, Otunga said the pay cut had put teachers in a deplorable economic state. He said some of the teachers did not receive their salaries especially those who committed their salaries to loans.
“The new salary review has affected most of us adversely. Some teachers got negative salaries because the money was deducted to settle statutory deductions and loans,” Otunga said.
Some teachers also complained that the county public service board changed their employment terms from permanent and pensionable to contract. They complained that the change will deny them retirement benefits.
Otunga said the county public service board was ill advised to review the teachers’ terms of employment. “All teachers should be employed on permanent and pensionable terms. This will enable them get their benefits after retirement,” Otunga added.
The sentiments were echoed by the Homa Bay Branch Chairman Michael Odera, Branch Secretary Mike Shaya and Organising Secretary Bernard Oumo. They said downing their tools was the language their employer understands.
