Teachers win as court orders gov’t to increase salaries

The High Court on Monday ordered the government to increase teachers’ salaries by 50 to 60 per cent dating back to June 2013.

In her ruling, Employment and Labour Relations Court Judge Nduma Nderi said though funding for TSC Secretariat increased from 1.7 billion to 3.3 billion from 2007 to 2013, teachers’ salaries have not reflected the adjustments.

The judge further ruled that the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) has no mandate determining teachers’ salaries and their job evaluation but can only offer advice on the mater.

This court observed that the last review was in 2009, adding that their salaries are not at par with those of other civil servants.

The ruling brings to an end a long-standing pay row between teachers, through their union the Kenya National Union of Teachers and the government, which has led to a series of countrywide strikes.

The parties had agreed to the judiciary’s intervention to end a nationwide teachers’ strike that threatened to cripple learning in schools.

The court ruled that the increment should be effected immediately, stretching for four years from July 2013 to July 2017.

The ruling was welcome by KNUT Secretary General Wilson Sossion, who said teachers have received a fair judgment.

Sossion, however, pointed out that the ruling is just one victory in a series of struggles that the union is engaged in.