50 teachers in interdiction threat

By Michael Chepkwony

Nandi County

Fifty school heads and teachers in Nandi South District face interdiction for allegedly walking out on the District Education Officer in a meeting recently.

The district Kenya National Union of Teachers (Knut) Secretary Stephen Misoi over the weekend held talks with the teachers and heads to iron out the matter.

Mr Misoi confirmed the 50 letters written by the DEO Abel Nyamwaya had already been dispatched to the teachers. He said Mr Nyamwaya had demanded a written apology from all of them and show cause why they should not be interdicted.

The letters dated April 12 say the teachers "walked out before commencement of the meeting," convened by Nyamwaya at Aldai Girls High School.

But the teachers through Misoi argued that they dispersed after they waited up to late afternoon and he failed to show up.

The move has elicited sharp reactions from the teachers who have vowed to paralyse learning in the district when schools re-open until official communication from the ministry is made.

Kept waiting

Siding with the teachers, Misoi confirmed that Nyamwaya did not arrive at the venue on time. "Teachers arrived at eight o’clock in the morning and waited for the officer up to late in the afternoon when we decided to leave since Nyamwaya had not turned up and there was no communication from him," he said.

According to Misoi, the officer has been inciting parents against teachers and harassing and intimidating them for no particular reason.

Nyamwaya confirmed writing the letters. He said: "The Knut official misled teachers into leaving the meeting before I arrived."

Misoi now wants the Education ministry to investigate the officer’s conduct and also called for his transfer.