Embakasi East MP Babu Owino has officially called off planned demonstrations which were to take place starting tomorrow Thursday after a number of BOM teachers acknowledged receiving salary payment from government.
“I want to take this opportunity to congratulate BOM Teachers for receiving money and warn the government to act with speed next time and pay Teachers on time.My regret is that the demonstrations will not take place tomorrow as planned,” said Babu on Facebook.
Addressing the Press in Nairobi, MPs under the banner Kenya Young Parliamentarians Association (KYPA) had said the teachers had waited for too long and it was time they got their dues.
On Monday CS Magoha touched on the pay of BoM teachers stating that the government had already disbursed payment to the teachers.
“BOM teachers should now actually have been paid. The Cabinet and the government approved their payment over six weeks ago, so let us not waste so much energy discussing non-issues,” he said.
The cancellation of the planned demonstrations comes just a day after the Kenya Secondary Schools Heads Association (KESSHA) chairman Kahi Indimuli confirmed that schools had started receiving monies for paying BOM teachers and support staff.
Speaking on Monday night through a popular TV station Mr Indimuli said their should be no more speculations since the government has released the money and school principals will pay their staff using the available criteria.
“The funds were credited today (Monday). BOM teachers should get their funds in the course of the week,” said Indimuli on Citizen Tv.
BOM teachers are expected to be paid kshs 10,000 per month according to a circular released to secondary schools. The payment is also expected to start from August and end in December 2020.
Last month the government had released Sh15.4 billion to enable public schools prepare for reopening in January.
Of these, Sh13.3 will go towards arrangements for social distance, hand washing and purchase of thermo-guns.
Another Sh2.2 billion will pay salaries of teachers employed by the Boards of Management (BoM) and non-teaching staff, such as security personnel.
Education Cabinet Secretary George Magoha said the money will help cushion teachers and support staff from the effects of coronavirus.
Some Sh750 had been allocated per child to cater for teachers employed by BOM.
Another Sh2,246 had been allocated for personal emoluments and will be used to pay non-teaching staff.