More than 100 teachers, including Mr. Peter Kamoet, have remained jobless for years after fleeing their workstations in Kenya’s North Eastern region due to persistent terror threats. The breaking point came after a colleague was brutally killed inside a police station where they had sought refuge from Al-Shabaab attacks.
Mr. Kamoet taught History and Kiswahili at Fincharo Secondary School in Elwak Sub-County, Mandera County , just 15 kilometers from the Kenya-Somalia border. His story mirrors that of many other teachers deployed to the region under the Teachers Service Commission (TSC).
Another affected teacher, Mr. Charles Achol, natively from Siaya County, was posted to Lafey Boarding School in 2021. Faced with extremely harsh and dangerous conditions, Achol and other non-local teachers resorted to sleeping in ditches alongside police officers for protection. Despite formally requesting a transfer, his plea was rejected.
Eventually, after missing classes due to insecurity, Achol received several warning letters, show-cause notices, and was summoned before a disciplinary committee. He was interdicted and later suspended following a court appearance. Though the suspension was to end on December 4, 2023, he was never reinstated, unlike other suspended teachers who were reposted to Mandera. He petitioned the National Assembly’s Education Committee chaired by Julius Melly, but says he has received no feedback to date.
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In February 2024, a group of 120 affected teachers moved to court, seeking an order to stop their reposting to Mandera. The TSC requested additional time to respond and was granted one month, which lapsed on April 5 without any further communication.
While some teachers have taken TSC to court through the Kenya Teachers in Hardship and Arid Areas Welfare Association (KETHAWA), others have tragically turned to alcoholism. A few returned to their workstations out of desperation.
After nearly three years of court proceedings, a significant development came on July 17, 2025. The Employment and Labour Relations Court in Nairobi, led by Justice Byram Ongaya, directed that the matter proceed to mediation. Fifty-seven teachers have been ordered to personally attend the sessions, with mediation set to begin immediately and conclude by September 1, 2025. The TSC Chairperson and CEO have also been ordered to appear in person, along with all legal representatives.
The case is scheduled for mention on October 22, 2025, when the court will record the outcome of the mediation process and issue further directions.
By Mercy Kokwon
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