KNUT demands Ksh.10.1B slashed from TSC budget reinstated, threatens action
![KNUT demands Ksh.10.1B slashed from TSC budget reinstated, threatens action KNUT demands Ksh.10.1B slashed from TSC budget reinstated, threatens action](https://citizentv.obs.af-south-1.myhuaweicloud.com/120655/conversions/Oyuu-og_image.webp)
KNUT Secretary General Collins Oyuu addresses the press on March 15, 2024.
The Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) has
urged the Kenya Kwanza government to reinstate Ksh.10.1 billion slashed from
the Teachers Service Commission's (TSC) budget for the financial year 2024/25
following the withdrawal of the contentious Finance Bill 2024/25.
In a statement signed by KNUT Secretary General
Collins Oyuu, the Union decried that despite efforts by TSC to convince both
the National Assembly's Departmental Committee on Education and Research and
the Budget and Appropriation Committee on why its Ksh.357,773,737,118 budget
for the period should not be cut, the Treasury has reduced it to
Ksh.347,492,589,260.
According to Oyuu, the budget cut will affect the
implementation of the second phase of a Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA)
between the TSC and KNUT. The CBA was signed in 2021, reviewed in 2023 and
appropriately factored into the 2021/2025 contractual spending of the state.
"The CBA in question is a legal and binding
document which was signed between TSC and KNUT in 2021, and rightly deposited
in the Employment and Labour Relations Court — hence, there is no way the
National Treasury which is fully aware of the existence and content of the
Agreement can backtrack on the CBA by failing to fund adequately TSC to meet it
contractual obligations as regards implementing 2021/2025 Collective Bargaining
Agreement," Oyuu said.
"The implementation of the 2021/2025 teachers'
CBA should not whatsoever be tied on Finance Bill, 2024 nor Appropriation Bill,
2024 as the TSC/KNUT Agreement was negotiated and signed in 2021, reviewed in
2023 and appropriately factored in the 2021/2025 contractual spendings of the
National Government. Thus, the National Treasury has zero option but to fund
TSC adequately to meet its financial obligations."
Further, Oyuu urged the national exchequer to
restore the slashed funds, highlighting that the reduction amounts to violation
of the CBA.
"It should be noted that as is, the CBA has not
been withdrawn by the two parties (TSC and KNUT), hence the Agreement has to be
implemented to the letter. To this end, the National Government should live up
to its promise of awarding teachers the second phase salary increment as
stipulated in the amended 2021/2025 CBA," he said.
"Teachers would not accept anything short of
the 2nd phase of the 2.5% to 9% salary increment awarded in 2023 since it would
be an act of treachery, breach of contract and a violation of teachers' labour
rights."
Additionally, the KNUT Secretary General warned that
the Union will move to court if its demands are not met.
"KNUT therefore calls on TSC to use all means
within its reach to ensure that the Agreement which is legal and still binding
is honoured through compelling the National Assembly to approve TSC's
Shs357,773,737,118 Budget without amendment failure to which the Union will use
all legal means within her disposal to ensure full compliance," he said.
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