The interdicted Nandi County teacher’s letter has surfaced online igniting mixed reactions from Kenyans and education stakeholders given the circumstance of the interdiction.
Peculiar are the reasons for the disciplinary action that people are raising questions as to whether the allegations meet the threshold for serving interdiction.
Reacting to the incident a KUPPET Nandi branch official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the allegations were a mere witch hunt raising concern on how the issues raised meet interdiction threshold adding that the teacher needed psychological support for exhibiting mental disorder symptoms.
“it is shocking that such a decision could be arrived at so quickly. The teacher exhibited mental disorder and the best thing the employer could do is to support him. Many teachers are going through a lot. Let’s sober up and assist these teachers,” said the official.
The letter seen by Education News indicates that the teacher stationed in Lelmokwo Secondary school, Nandi County was served with the disciplinary action on allegation of storming the principal’s office and eating bananas and drinking milk stored in a fridge.
The letter, dated May 19 and signed by Teachers Service Commission (TSC) Nandi deputy county director W.O. Mosigisi, accuses the teacher of infamous conduct in the school exhibited on diverse dates of March this year.
“You are of infamous conduct in that; you stormed the principal’s office on 15/3/2023 at around 1:30 pm without permission and ate all the bananas and milk in the fridge,” the letter reads in part.
The allegation went on to allude that the teacher chased away the school bursar from his office before forcing himself to the school kitchen and demanded to be served meals meant for visitors.
“You forcefully ejected Mr. Manasse on 13/3/2023 at around 3.00pm from the school Bursar’s office without any Justifiable reason,” it continues.
The third accusation reads, “You stormed the school Kitchen on 16/3/2023 and forced the school cateress to serve you with chicken which was meant for visitors.”
Mosigisi went on to interdict the teacher with effect from May 22, 2023.
The letter went on to assure the teacher of fair trial before the Commission’s disciplinary committee to be held at a venue convenient to the tutor.
According to the TSC code of conduct 2012, the commission lists infamous conduct in third schedule section 34 (C) as drunkenness, fighting; and conduct or behavior in the opinion of the commission contradicts the spirit and tenor of chapter six of the commission.
Further, forgery, mismanagement and embezzlement of public funds as well as any other act or conduct that is incompatible with the teaching profession are listed as infamous conduct that could lead to disciplinary action against a teacher.
By Philemon Kiprop
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