Knut officials condemn the beating of Siaya head teachers by their junior

THURSDAY, 06 SEPTEMBER 2012 00:11 BY ERIC OLOO

KEPSHA Ugenya vice secretary Michael Awuor reminisces the beatings he got from his colleagues for allegedly defying their order to boycott doing the management examinations in Siaya town on Tuesday. Photo/ERIC OLOO

Kenya National Union of Teachers officials from Siaya county have condemned the beating of their colleagues by striking teachers. Speaking yesterdayat the Siaya Institute of Technology, the Kenya Primary Schools Heads Association vice chairman Omondi Ogutu, the secretary Dominic Koloo and Kenya Secondary Schools Heads Association county executive secretaryVincent Odhiambo, said the harassment of head teachers who were sittingfor a management exams was wrong. “The examinations had nothing to do with the teachers strike,” said Koloo.

“The head teachers whosat for the test have been contributing more thanSh1,000 each to the union. “It is unfortunate they were being mishandled byan organisation they pay money to. ”However, Alex Dunga, the Knut chairman said he was unaware that some head teachers had been beaten up. He also said the timing of the management examination was “fishy”. “I advised them to wait and do the exams when there was peace, but they did not listen to me, so let them face the wrath of teachers,” said Dunga.

Dunga absolved himself from any blame and said he is not against the examinations, but “they could have easily divided teachers.”The head teachers who sat for the exams, said they support the strike and that they remit more money to Knut than the junior teachers. Two head teachers were critically injured during the Tuesday’s demonstrations, while other stripped naked. Michael Awuor and Vitalis Ogutu were rushed to Siaya District Hospital incritical condition. The 600 head teachers sympathise with their colleagues who had been hurt.