The are two sorts of people: it is people like CS Matiang’i and than ordinary people!

In Kenya, the Cabinet Secretaries under the Jubilee Government is a special breed, they must be the new definition of the over-class, why do I say this, well because of the Education Cabinet Secretary Dr. Fred Matiang’i who was at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) Terminal D at 05:49 AM and about to depart at 06:15 AM on the 6^th April 2017.

At the early morning at the Airport a fellow staffer Daizy Cherogony gotten suspended for her act towards the CS Matiang’i, who was so brazen to ask the government official to stand in line before entering the plane, also denying him PRIORITY SERVICE. Meaning he is supposed to skate through the whole airport and board without any question or be in a queuing up. She got suspended because she embarrassed him for taking away the Priority Service and making him stand in-line like common folk.

That she got suspended for embarrassing a Cabinet Secretary and taking away his priority service while boarding his plane to Kismu was breach of work ethics at JKIA. Certainly, she got hardships of common folk when she questioned the powers of the Parliamentarian and the Government Official. It seems like the CS are above the common sense and the people in general with this sort of provision. As well as being suspended in April 2017 and she was fired for this act on the 11^th May 2017.

Clearly, there two set of people, the Special and Very Important Persons (VIP) which apparently is the CS Matiang’i class, who are above the rest and has a higher esteem. People like this doesn’t queue or are in lines of people. They walk pass everyone, surely in a traffic-jam in the Central Business District of Nairobi, the Police Cars drive in conveys so it can pass through. Since the CS is one of these people he cannot be treated like common folk. The other kind of people are common folk, who stand line at the Airport, have no extra Priority Service or have Police Envoys in the Central Business District of Nairobi. They are stuck in traffic-jams and cannot dip through traffic with the help of security organizations. Common people cannot get special treatment or doesn’t seem significant enough to be treated as royalties.

Well, the common folk Cherogony treated Matiang’i as the same and she got sacked for doing so. Because he apparently is above common sense and common people. She got suspended from her duties and later terminated from working at JKIA. This for doing her job and thinking that the CS was just like the rest. If it is embarrassing to be treated as common folk, than maybe he should become a civilian again. Maybe the CS should remember who he represents and what entity he works for. He is a civil servant and a public official who represent all Kenyans.

CS Matiang’i is the head of the Education Ministry, he is supposed to make sure people are educated and that their minds are fit for society and for work. Their education bearing fruits and their values are fit for society. This is the work of the CS Matiang’i. Still, it is not in him or his acts towards common folk or common people, since they apparently beneath him. That is when someone does their job and secure the bordering of a flight. Even a CS needs follow airport procedure and guidelines when they are bordering a plane. This isn’t a chapati-line or a food serving. This isn’t a quick car-parking and getting a special parking lot for him. He should have no issue to follow procedure at the airport.

What is worse in this is that the gentleman, the government official got someone fired for being embarrassed, when that person was actually just doing her job. The insincere works of the Cabinet Secretary, the Minister, the man who represent his party and the people, got someone fired for doing their job and securing air-safety. If that isn’t insulting, than what is?

Peace.

Kenya: Press Statement on Implementation of CBAs in the Teaching Service (04.03.2017)

Kenya: On Civil Society and Civic Education, You Are Wrong Mr. President! (13.12.2016)

Press Release: Kenyan Government must respect lawful order and pay teachers (17.09.2015)

NAIROBI, 16^TH SEPTEMBER 2015 | The Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC) is a premier and flagship non-governmental organization with a mandate to entrench human rights-centered governance at all levels. It is on this basis that the KHRC is deeply concerned by the current standoff between the government and the two teachers unions: KNUT and KUPPET over salary increment for teachers.

The two giant unions called the ongoing national teachers’ strike based on the Government’s refusal to effect the Industrial Relations Court order that the Teachers’ Service Commission (TSC) awards a 50-60 percent salary increment to teachers, a decision which the Court of Appeal and Supreme Court upheld. Unless the order is reversed by a higher court, the rule of law demands that the government complies with the current decision. For the refusal by the Government and any actor to implement court decisions sets a bad precedent of abetting anarchy and impunity.

KHRC is concerned that the disruption of learning due to the ongoing teachers’ strike comes at a time when learners should be preparing for the national exams. The strike, now in its third week, has paralyzed learning in public primary and secondary schools; putting the fate of about 12 million learners in limbo, with children in public schools hurting the most. This perpetuates inequality because learning in private schools continues uninterrupted.

The right to basic education for children in Article 53 of the Constitution is an unqualified right, realizable immediately and is not pegged on availability of resources. Further, Kenya being a signatory of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR), has undertaken under Article 2 (1) of the covenant to deploy maximum available resources for the achievement of Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, education being one of them.

However, a look at the gross misappropriation of tax payers’ money, unnecessary government expenditure, misplaced priorities such as the laptop project, over funding of some ministries such as the security ministry currently supported to the tune of Kshs. 200 billion, grand corruption both at the national and county governments and hefty salaries for and extravagance by State officials is evidence of the government’s unwillingness to deploy maximum available resources for the realization of access to education. Granted, the billions of money lost in tax evasion estimated at KSh.639 billion annually is more than enough to pay the KSh.17 billion that teachers are asking for.

Davis Malombe, Ag. Executive Director at KHRC says: “By delaying to obey the Court order, the Government is condoning a continuing violation of children’s rights under the Constitution.” It is also a blatant contravention of Article 21 of the Constitution that obligates the State and State organs to observe, respect, protect, promote and fulfill rights and freedoms. The excuse of lack of funds by the Government to pay teachers adequately is unjustifiable and unacceptable. Teachers have had to put up with a never ending circus on their salaries for years now. The billions lost in imprudent and irresponsible financial expeditions is more than enough to pay the 17 billion that teachers are asking for.

In view of the foregoing, KHRC demands that:

1. The TSC immediately pays the increment ordered by the Courts without any further delay;
2. A return-to work formula is negotiated and agreed on to allow normalcy to return to public schools. The strike MUST END NOW!
3. The TSC and teachers’ unions engage in open and constructive dialogue towards finding a lasting solution to the never ending teachers’ strikes;
4. The government MUST zealously guard, respect, promote and protect the right to education. This right is a fundamental right that MUST NOT be compromised for whatever reason.
5. The Government must pursuant to Article 201 of the Constitution ensure equity, accountability and prudence in the allocation and utilization of public resources.

Kenya is a State governed by the Constitution. The Government, just like any other stakeholder, has an unqualified and uncompromising obligation to uphold the rule of law and respect Court Orders.