3 September 2012 Last updated at 08:39 ET

Kenya schools hit by teachers' pay strike

No teaching is taking place at many schools

Tens of thousands of teachers in Kenya are on strike to demand higher pay, with many primary schools affected.

The teachers defied a court ruling declaring the strike illegal. All schools visited by the BBC in Nairobi and Mombasa were closed.

The teachers are demanding a wage increase of between 100 and 300%.

Secondary school teachers and university lecturers say they will join the strike later this week, when their institutions open for the new term.

The government has not commented on the strike.

'Rats'

The BBC's David Okwembah in the capital, Nairobi says the strike appears to be successful.

In Nairobi, protesting teachers held up posters saying: "Teachers cannot eat rats" and "We are tired of empty promises".

The strike was called by trade unions representing about 250,000 teachers, our correspondent says.

They have vowed to continue with their strike until their demands are met.

On Friday, the Industrial Court ruled that it was illegal.

The unions rejected the ruling, saying it was their constitutional right to strike.