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Kenyan primary schools closed over strike Kenya teachers end school strike
(about 1 hour later)
All state-run primary schools in Kenya have been closed indefinitely because of a nationwide strike by about 240,000 teachers, an official says. Teachers in Kenya have called off a nationwide strike, shortly after the government announced the indefinite closure of primary schools.
Education Secretary Jacob Kaimenyi said the strike, now in its fourth week, was unconstitutional. The Kenya National Union of Teachers took the decision following talks with Deputy President William Ruto.
Teacher unions have been demanding a pay increase of some 500%, but President Uhuru Kenyatta's government has refused to yield to their demand. Some 240,000 primary and secondary school teachers had been striking for more than three weeks for higher pay.
It is the biggest domestic crisis since Mr Kenyatta won elections in March. It was the biggest crisis President Uhuru Kenyatta's government had faced since it won elections in March.
Those pupils who had still turned up to school would be sent home immediately following the government directive, reports the BBC's Caroline Karobia from the capital, Nairobi. The union seemed to have bowed to government pressure, reports the BBC's Caroline Karobia from the capital, Nairobi.
'Sacked''Sacked'
The Kenya Primary School Heads Association (KEPSHA) called on the government and trade unions to seek a solution for the sake of schoolchildren. Earlier on Wednesday, Education Secretary Jacob Kaimenyi denounced the strike as unconstitutional and said primary schools would close indefinitely.
The Kenya Primary School Heads Association (KEPSHA) then called on the government and trade unions to seek a solution for the sake of schoolchildren.
"The children who are facing exams this year, lost some time last year during another strike, they lost another 10 days during elections and now they have missed out on four weeks. That is a problem we cannot wish away," its chairman Joseph Karuga said."The children who are facing exams this year, lost some time last year during another strike, they lost another 10 days during elections and now they have missed out on four weeks. That is a problem we cannot wish away," its chairman Joseph Karuga said.
"These children are the people whose future we are talking about and if we continue interfering with it, the cost will be enormous.""These children are the people whose future we are talking about and if we continue interfering with it, the cost will be enormous."
On Monday, Mr Kaimenyi said teachers who did not resume work the next day "would have sacked themselves". On Monday, Mr Kaimenyi said teachers who did not resume work the next day "would have sacked themselves" following a court ruling that the strike was illegal.
Earlier this month, a court held that the teachers were in contempt of court for failing to abide by an earlier ruling to end the strike. Teachers were demanding increased travel, housing and medical allowances.
Teachers want increased travel, housing and medical allowances. They also wanted the government to abide by a 1997 agreement, which calls for a 500% pay increase.
They also want the government to abide by a 1997 agreement, which calls for a 500% pay increase.
The deal would cost the government $540m (£362m) in increased allowances for teachers and a further $175m to hire new teachers.The deal would cost the government $540m (£362m) in increased allowances for teachers and a further $175m to hire new teachers.
The government says it cannot afford to meet the demands. The government said it could not afford to meet the demands.
Last week, the Secretary General of the Kenya National Association of Parents, Musau Ndunda, accused the government of "playing politics" and not being keen to resolve the strike.Last week, the Secretary General of the Kenya National Association of Parents, Musau Ndunda, accused the government of "playing politics" and not being keen to resolve the strike.