The Kenya National Union of Teachers wants MPs to intervene in their salary award dispute with the Teachers Service Commission to avert a looming national strike.

Teachers have maintained they will proceed on strike if TSC does not pay as ordered by the Labour Court. On June 30, the court awarded teachers a salary increase of between 50 and 60 percent but the TSC rejected it. The TSC appealed against the ruling at the Supreme Court on July 13.

The hearing of the case is scheduled for today. Yesterday, Knut asked the Parliament to appropriate funds to their employer to sanction salary hike awarded by the Court. Union officials met the National Assembly Education Committee where they shared their grievances regarding the Collective Bargaining Agreement with TSC.

"We believe you have the capacity to handle the matter reasonably and restore order in the education sector," Knut secretary general Wilson Sossion said.

He said teachers are still open for dialogue but will down their tools if the increment is not effected by end of this month. Knut chairman Mudzo Nzili said teachers' numbers should not be seen as a threat to the economy. The committee will meet TSC officials to discuss the matter and hand its proposal to Knut in two weeks.