Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has assured teachers of their safety in all parts of the country, including in areas facing security challenges.
While addressing the Kenya National Union of Teachers Union (Knut) annual National Delegates Conference at Kasarani Stadium in Nairobi, on Wednesday afternoon, the deputy president said the government has put in place adequate measures to ensure teachers go on with their work in such areas without fear.
“We have taken enough measures to ensure that the teachers are secure and there is enough security for them. A lot of work is going on in those regions to make sure that teachers and everybody and the rest of the country is secure,” said the Deputy President.
He confessed that the government had stopped the sacking of teachers, who fled from their working stations over insecurity in Northern Kenya since they are doing so to save their lives.
“You cannot punish people who are running away to save their lives,” Mr. Gachagua said.
The deputy president assured the union of teachers that the National Police Service and all other security agencies are doing whatever needs to be done so that all teachers and the rest of Kenyans are secure.
He said Interior and National Administration Cabinet Secretary Prof Kithure Kindiki was seized of the matter and would ensure the measures are fully implemented.
“The National Police Service and all our security agencies are doing whatever needs to be done so that our teachers and the rest of Kenyans are secure,” noted the Deputy President.
He talked about the value of education in addressing banditry and other forms of insecurity in that it will progressively move communities from the past retrogressive practices.
Mr. Gachagua stated that security in the North Rift and areas prone to terrorism are on the government’s radar and it will not relent until peace is restored.
The DP was representing President William Ruto at the event attended by over 2,000 delegates from all the 47 counties. He paid tribute to teachers for their patriotism, also commended them for their savings culture through cooperative societies to harness income for their future financial stability.
He further said that the government plans to bridge bridge the teachers’ deficit by hiring at least 116,000 teachers to cover the gap. He added that they are working with the Teachers Service Commission to gradually convert the teachers on contract to permanent and pensionable, saying financial constraints had delayed its implementation.
He was accompanied by Cabinet Secretary for Labour and Social Protection Florence Bore and Knut officials led by the secretary-general Collins Oyuu and chairman Patrick Karinga.
By Matildah Obaigwa
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