Teachers cry foul over new salary deductions

Frustrated teachers have resorted to social media to protest ‘illegal’ deduction of their salaries by the recently launched Kenya Women Teachers Association (Kewota).

On twitter, Facebook and WhatsApp through #KewotaMustGo, the teachers called for a nationwide demonstration to demand the disbandment of the Ms Dorothy Muthoni-led union.

KNUT

The teachers, some of who are members of Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (Kuppet) and Kenya National Union of Teachers (Knut), accused their union officials of doing little to protect them.  

They also termed the deductions 'illegal' and called on their unions to seek legal redress to ensure that the money is refunded.   

“Deducting teachers’ salary without personal consent is criminal and those affected must forward their complaint letters and copies of their pay slips to [email protected] <mailto:[email protected]>  or WhatsApp 0711870044 in order to  immediately stop the remittance as we seek a court injunction,”  Ms Catherine Wambilyanga, KUPPET National Gender Secretary wrote on WhatsApp group dubbed ANTI Kewota, plan demo.

“You are going to forget the unions and work independently or you compromise your pay slips. Read the silence in unions,” twitted Moses Ayier on KEWOTAmustgo twitter-handle.

AON MINET

The teachers also vowed to use social media platforms to mobilise each other for countrywide demonstrations against AON Minet, their health insurance cover provider.

“AON contract is also coming to an end this June. We also need to use the same forum to get out of it. Kuppet and Knut will never help us since it’s their cash cow and this Kewota thing could be a diversionary tactic to renew the contract silently while we are busy fighting it,” posted Gladys on WhatsApp.

WEAKEN UNIONS

In a recent press briefing by the Kewota leadership, Ms Muthoni said the association targets about 130,000 female teachers which is nearly half the membership of Knut that stand at 30,000.

“No one can stop women from forming an association,” said Ms Muthoni.

She cautioned Knut Secretary General Wilson Sossion against interfering with the association. She dismissed claims that Kewota was meant to weaken Knut and Kuppet.