- ECDE teachers in Nyamira threaten to strike over delayed implementation of SRC salary guidelines.
- SRC circular sets uniform salaries for certificate, diploma and degree holders, backed by court orders.
- Teachers cite Kericho, Nyeri and Vihiga as counties that have already harmonised salaries, boosting pay significantly.
Early Childhood Development and Education (ECDE) teachers in Nyamira County have issued a strike threat, demanding immediate implementation of salary increments recommended by the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC).
The teachers, led by Branch Executive Secretary Linet Ndubi, accused the county government of dragging its feet on service delivery and failing to treat them with dignity despite performing duties equal to those of other civil servants.
Speaking during a meeting in Nyamira town, Ms Ndubi said ECDE teachers have for years been subjected to “special salaries” on contract terms, leaving them underpaid and demoralised. She warned that unless Governor Amos Nyaribo responds by the end of the month, teachers will take to the streets to demand their rights.
The SRC, through a circular dated August 10, 2023, set a uniform pay structure for ECDE teachers across all 47 counties based on academic qualifications. Certificate holders in Job Group G are entitled to a gross salary of between Sh34,450 and Sh42,200, while diploma holders in Job Group H should earn between Sh46,700 and Sh56,690. Degree holders in Job Group K are expected to receive between Sh61,200 and Sh74,460. The commission has insisted that the structure is binding, with courts also directing counties to implement the circular and pay arrears dating back to September 2023.
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Despite these directives, Ms Ndubi noted that many ECDE teachers in Nyamira still earn far below the recommended rates, with some taking home less than Sh20,000 after deductions. She cited Kericho, Nyeri and Vihiga counties as examples where salaries have already been harmonised, resulting in increments of more than Sh10,000 for teachers. In Kericho, certificate teachers now earn Sh29,561, while diploma and degree holders take home Sh40,000 and Sh49,000 respectively, all on permanent and pensionable terms.
The teachers have now called on the SRC to intervene directly, insisting that Nyamira County must align with national standards. They argue that failure to implement the pay structure undermines not only their welfare but also the quality of early childhood education in the region.
By Enock Okong’o
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