Exam shock as Knut issues strike notice

EDUCATION | They demand responsibility cash for principals and deputies

Teachers will go on strike to coincide with the start of national examinations over their long-running pay dispute with the government. Their union yesterday gave a 21-day notice to their employer, the Teachers Service Commission, to start talks on a new pay deal or face a strike. The Kenya National Union of Teachers (Knut) said the consultative committee on terms and conditions of service — the official term for the process leading to a new deal — would cover awards up to 2017.

Industrial unrest “Failure (to convene) would mean the employer shall be provoking teachers to an industrial unrest at the expiry of the said period,” the union said in a statement read by secretarygeneral Wilson Sossion. They teachers, who are asking for a revision of their salaries and allowances, have listed 37 demands, which include a responsibility allowance for headteachers that is equal to 60 per cent of their basic salary. Deputies should get 40 per cent and senior teachers and department heads 30 per cent. Knut wants science teachers’ allowances raised. The teachers currently get two annual salary increments, as opposed to arts teachers who are entitled to only one.

End of the party as Florida comes tumbling down

SHOWBIZ | Iconic night spot shall surely go with many secrets and memories alike

Nairobi revellers are “mourning” following the end of an era of one of the most popular clubs, the New Florida Club, popularly known as “Mad House”. Located next to Chai House on Koinange Street, the mushroom- shaped club has been going through a slow and “painful” demolition in the past few days. Pictures of the demolition have been posted on social media by people who mostly frequented the club, arousing emotions and memories of a bygone era. But the question is: Why is this club so dear to many partylovers? To begin with, all you needed to do was to have Sh500 as club entry and be over 18. “The club didn’t have a VIP section, so everybody who got in was treated as one,” says DJ Kareez, who worked in the night club for 18 years both as DJ and entertainment manager. “At ‘Mad House’, as long as you could afford a drink while inside, everyone was equal.” Most people loved the night club because of its design. “It’s round shape inside, made most first timers get lost as they tried to locate the exit,” says a reveller who requested anonymity. “One would get out of the dance floor and forget where they were seated.”

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