By Allan Kibet
The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) has cautioned teachers against involving themselves in activities and affairs of political parties in the country; otherwise, they will face disciplinary action.
TSC further told teachers and other employees of the Commission to refrain from holding office in any political party, engaging in a political activity that may compromise in the political neutrality of the office they hold, publicly indicating support for or against any political aspirant and being engaged in activities like being an agent of a political party or candidate during party primaries or in the general elections.
Through a circular signed by TSC CEO, Dr. Nancy Macharia, the Commission reminded the employees of the explicit position of the law that prohibits them from taking part in any active political engagements while still in service of the Commission.
The teacher employer reiterated that the law was clear and that it guided the directive, quoting the provisions in Article 77 Section 2 of the Constitution of Kenya, Section 23 of the Leadership and Integrity Act, 2012, Section 12 of the Political Act, 2011, Regulation 187 of the Code of Regulations for Teachers and Clause 166 of the Human Resource Policies and Procedure Manual for Secretariat Staff that prohibit public officers from holding office and actively engaging in politics at the same time.
The Commission has therefore directed all its County Directors across the country to ensure this information gets to all the teachers and officers serving under them. The same has been asked of head of institutions.
Recently, teachers and individuals in other professions were required by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) to relinquish their positions before vying for any political seat before a March date that was set by the electoral body. Many teachers across the country resigned to vie for different political positions.
