President Uhuru Kenyatta has broken his silence on the ongoing teachers' strike that has paralyzed learning in public schools, for nearly the third week now.
Uhuru termed the teachers' pay rise demand as 'unsustainable'. He further indicated that the government would not afford the stipulated amounts unless Kenyans were prepared to pay more taxes.
“We have to be frank and examine our wage bill versus our present economic situation. In order to pay more, we must be able to earn more first," the Nation quoted President Kenyatta.
Addressing journalists at State House Nairobi, Kenyatta pointed out that the teachers demand was legitimate but noted that honouring the pay rise, would strain the country's economy.
"Teachers had a very legitimate case when they asked for their pay to be harmonised with the rest of the civil servants, asking for more now will mean the other civil servants will have a similar case and we will have a completely unsustainable wage bill,” President Kenyatta said.
He said this after his arrival in the country from a state visit to Italy where he also attended an expo to advertise Kenya to the world.
The President is reportedly scheduled to meet with officials of the teachers’ unions and Ministry of Education in a bid to resolve the current standoff between teachers and their employer.
However, Kenya National Union of Teacher Secretary (KNUT) General Wilson Sossion said that they were not aware of any invitation to meet with the head of state.
We are not aware of any invitation to meet the head of state. WE EXPECT COMPLIANCE WITH COURT ORDERS @NationFMKe pic.twitter.com/hegt5EeJJT
— Wilson Sossion (@sossionsgKNUT) September 11, 2015
Teachers have been on strike for almost three weeks now over their pay hassle. They have remained rooted in their decision not to go back to work until their employer heeds to the court's order by awarding them the 50-60 percent pay rise.
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