Crisis talks by Government officials failed to yield fruit in the Sh17 billion pay award for teachers, whose implementation this month was upheld by the Supreme Court, as the public school sector edged towards turbulent days with the August holiday drawing to an end.

With Kenya National Union of Teachers (Knut) and Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (Kuppet) standing their ground that Teachers Service Commission pays up this month's dues by August 31, the teachers' employer on the other hand resolved to escalate consultations to 'high levels', understood to refer to President Uhuru Kenyatta.

 The picture building up on the pay standoff replicated that of 1997 when then President Daniel arap Moi had to personally step in, leading to an agreement on a phased-out deal that is linked to today's industrial tussle. The two main teachers' unions warned that should their more than 280,000 members fail to receive the 50-60 per cent pay increment by August 31 as directed by the court, they would open contempt proceedings against TSC bosses. Yesterday, Attorney General Githu Muigai, who is the Government's chief legal adviser, reportedly chaired the meeting that was attended by Education Cabinet Secretary Jacob Kaimenyi.

 TSC chairperson Lydia Nzomo, commission Chief Executive Officer Nancy Macharia and Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) deputy chairperson Daniel Ogutu were also at the AG's Chambers in Nairobi. See also: TSC payroll mess as teachers win again The National Treasury, which has the responsibility to provide the additional funds, did not send a representative, although The Standard established that they were invited.

 A senior Government official revealed the meeting, which was convened after the Supreme Court declined to overturn a Court of Appeal order directing that teachers be given the big salary raise even as the parties argue the TSC appeal, resolved that consultations be moved to a "higher level". The failure by the sub-consultative committee meeting to strike a deal and instead ask for higher level consultations was understood to signal the intervention of President Kenyatta. The meeting also resolved that TSC kick-starts talks with the two teachers' unions with the aim of "negotiating a way out of the court order".

 Consequently, TSC has invited Knut and Kuppet top officials to a meeting this morning. The development comes as the Knut lawyers threatened to institute contempt of court proceedings to commit TSC bosses to civil jail.