The Kenya Women Teachers Association wants Homa Bay government to obey a court order that barred it from slashing salaries paid to early childhood education teachers.
The cuts were effected after the Salaries and Remuneration Commission recommended it to governors.
Speaking in Homa Bay town on Sunday, the county Kewota coordinator Mercy Achieng said many ECDE teachers earn a meagre amount in salaries, and any reduction of their earning will worsen their economic situation.
“The Homa Bay government is non-committal on the issue of slashing salaries of ECDE teachers,” Achieng said.
"The court had pronounced itself on the matter, and we expect the government to obey it."
She was speaking after being elected Kewota coordinator for Homa Bay county.
Her election was witnessed by her Murang’a counterpart Winnie Kamanja.
The officials called on the national, post-primary and pre-primary unions to strengthen their voices on the welfare of teachers in Homa Bay.
“Unions like Kuppet and Knut should cooperate with Kunoppet to defend ECDE teachers,” Achieng said.
“The welfare of teachers can only be realised when they are paid the recommended money.”
Slashing of salaries for early childhood education teachers will hurt the quality of education that children acquire, she said.
Many teachers will get demoralised and fail to step into classrooms besides, she added.
“Personal growth and development will be compromised. Quality education can’t be provided in an environment where teachers’ expectations can’t be met,” Achieng said.
Kamanja said the association will help teachers to champion for their rights, including ensuring they are paid salaries promptly.
"We are ready to work with Kunoppet to push for better salaries and payments of ECDE teachers," she said.
Homa Bay Early Childhood Education Teachers are complaining that the county government has not communicated on a court order that barred it from implementing SRC recommendations.
At least 1,357 teachers had been awarded permanent and pensionable contracts when former Governor Cyprian Awiti was about to leave office.
Kunoppet secretary Mike Shaya said reduction of teachers’ salaries is a form of punishment over a mistake they are not aware of.
They moved to court before it suspended the reduction of salaries, but the county government is yet to act on what the judge said.
“The Homa Bay government seems reluctant and avoiding to comply with court order. Some amount of money was deducted from June salaries,” Shaya said.
Homa Bay Education executive Martin Opere said they will meet the teachers and address the issues.
