Blame games is what has characterized the over 18 years-long court case by 52,000 retired teachers seeking Sh42.3 billion salary and pension arrears.
The former teachers, under Retired Teachers 1997 Group, say the government has been playing games with them in their efforts to get the money which was awarded to them by the court in 2008.
Their unpaid dues have been accruing interest at the rate of 14 per cent per annum since the initial judgement was made by Justice David Maraga on October 23, 2008 against the Teachers Service Commission.
The fight for their pension has been one that is bruising and deadly. More than 2,000 members have since died without tasting the fruits of their labour.
The former teachers have exhausted all legal avenues that blocked the payments having won all cases filed by TSC.
The standoff seemed to have been nearing an end in 2008 when Justice Maraga, then the High Court judge in Nakuru, pronounced himself on the case ruling in favour of the ex-teachers.
Justice Maraga noted that all teachers were entitled to full pay increment at the time of their retirement.
He further ordered TSC and pensions department to pay all retired teachers covered by the 1997 deal their full benefits.
But the payment was delayed by subsequent appeals by the TSC.
The Supreme Court however confirmed Justice Maraga’s judgement in 2015, taking the TSC and pensions department to task.
Surprisingly, three years later the ex-teachers were still in court chasing the money after it failed to reach their accounts.