Junior Secondary School (JSS) intern teachers in Nyandarua County staged a peaceful demonstration in Ol Kalou town, calling on the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) to confirm them into permanent and pensionable employment, in line with a recent court ruling.
The teachers, marching under tight police security, moved through the town singing and carrying placards highlighting their grievances. They said they have continued working despite financial hardships since being employed by the TSC on an internship basis.
“We are earning a meagre Ksh 17,000 per month. With the current economic situation, this amount barely covers transport, leaving nothing for food, rent, or other basic needs,” said one of the protesting teachers. “We urge the TSC to confirm us to permanent and pensionable terms so we can serve learners effectively.”
The demonstrators were joined by officials from the Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) in Nyandarua County. The teachers noted that many of them are degree holders whose families invested heavily in their education, hoping for stable and fair employment.
They also welcomed the court’s ruling declaring the internship programme unconstitutional, urging the TSC to comply by offering them permanent positions and compensating them for the period served under internship.
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“We thank the court for delivering justice. We have worked diligently while earning very little. We now ask the TSC to implement the ruling, employ us on permanent terms, and compensate us for our service,” the teachers said in a joint statement.
The teachers warned that they would not return to classrooms until their demands are met.
“We respect the law and expect the TSC to do the same by implementing the court’s directive. We will only resume teaching once we receive confirmation letters for permanent and pensionable employment,” another teacher said.
The demonstration began at the Ol Kalou Railway grounds, where the teachers and KUPPET officials addressed the media before marching along the Ol Kalou–Nyahururu road to the Nyandarua County TSC office. There, they presented their petition to a staff member on behalf of the County TSC Director.
KUPPET Nyandarua Executive Secretary Julius Michuki, who spoke during the protest, affirmed the union’s commitment to advocating for the teachers’ rights.
“KUPPET will continue to push for the full implementation of the court ruling to ensure JSS teachers receive fair remuneration and secure employment,” he said.
By Peter Otuoro
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