(Capital News) Attorney General Githu Muigai has warned striking teachers
that they risk a jail term and fines should they fail to report to work
on Tuesday morning.
The Attorney General says it is a grave offence to ignore a
court order which amounts to contempt of court which is punishable by
law.
“The Attorney General’s attention has been drawn to media reports
attributed to the leadership of the teachers’ unions allegedly advising
their members to ignore clear orders of the Industrial Court of the
Republic of Kenya.
“The Attorney General would wish to advice the leaders of the
teachers unions, the individual teachers themselves and the general
public that the disobedience of court orders -contempt of court – is a
grave offence under Kenyan law punishable by both a jail term and the
imposition of a monetary penalty,” Muigai said in a statement to
newsrooms.
He has advised the striking teachers to comply with the Industrial
Court order issued by Judge Linnet Ndolo on Monday halting the strike
and directing the Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) and Kenya
Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) to engage in
negotiations with the government.
“It is totally unacceptable that litigants before any court or
tribunal can choose what orders to obey and which ones not to obey. Any
person guilty of the disobedience of court orders shall be met with the
full force of the law,” Muigai said in his statement.
He went on to defend the court saying that it has no vested interest
in the pay standoff that public school teachers and the government are
embroiled in.
“The Constitution of Kenya has created independent and impartial
courts to enforce the rule of law. The orders of these courts apply to
all persons and institutions with equal force,” Muigai stated.
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