The Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) secretary general David Okuta addresses members at the body's headquarters in September 6, 2011 where he announced the start of the teachers' strike. KNUT dismissed the latest government offer to employ 20,000 tutors on contract September 8, 2011. TOM MARUKO.

Teachers have rejected the latest government offer to employ 20,000 tutors on contract and vowed to continue with a nationwide strike that has paralysed learning in public schools since Monday.
Kenya National Union of Teachers (Knut) Secretary General David Okuta termed the offer an "insult" and a lack of understanding of the issues facing teachers.
He said instead of offering a solution, the government had "rubbed salt on teachers' wounds".
At a meeting on Wednesday evening between President Kibaki, Prime Minister Raila Odinga, the Treasury and the Ministry of Education, the government had resolved to hire 20,000 annually on contract for three years to address the 80,000 deficit. (Read: Government to hire 20,000 teachers on contract basis)
It was also agreed that the 18,060 teachers employed on contract last year would be employed on permanent and pensionable terms after expiry of their three-year contracts.
Education Minister Prof Sam Ongeri who read a statement after the meeting said the same would be done to the 60,000 after the expiry of their contracts with the last batch becoming permanent in 2017.
Reacting to the offer, the Knut leadership at a press conference in Nairobi said employment of contracts is illegal in Kenya.
It further took offence at its exclusion from the Wednesday meeting and the sidelining of the Teachers Service Commission.
“This is an independent constitutional body and it is the only one to deal with teachers issues. We expect TSC to table a deal and to engage us directly and not the minister,” said Mr Okuta.
The teachers are demanding the conversion of 18,060 teachers employed last year on contract terms, to permanent and pensionable terms. They further want the employment of 10,000 new teachers on permanent terms through TSC, and 23,000 early childhood teachers.
Finance minister Uhuru Kenyattta had earlier on Wednesday told Parliament that the government had no money to employ the teachers as demanded.
“They can go on with their strike or end it and go back to the negotiating table, but the government has no money,” he said.
Teachers had been angered by reports that more than Sh5 billion meant for the employment of teachers had been diverted and reallocated to the Ministry of Defence.
On Thursday, Mr Okuta said the Government has money to satisfy their demands.
“The Government is never broke. It can only be unwilling and insensitive. It has a bad intention. It wants to convert all teachers to contract terms,” he said.