Teachers in Elgeyo Marakwet took to the streets in protest against a government proposal to scrap hardship allowances for public servants in the region.
Led by Winny Kirwa and Nancy Sogomo, they staged peaceful demonstrations, saying the move would severely disadvantage them and threaten education standards in the county.
“We are shocked that Elgeyo Marakwet has been targeted while neighbouring counties with similar conditions remain unaffected,” said Kirwa.
The aggrieved teachers warned the government sternly, urging it to reconsider the proposal or risk a total paralysis of learning in the county’s public schools.
“If the allowances are scrapped, many of us will not manage to continue working in these tough conditions,” added Sogomo.
Branch KNUT Chairman Daniel Chelanga described the proposal as unfair and demoralising, saying hardship allowances were crucial for retaining teachers in remote and insecure areas of the county.
Acting KNUT Executive Secretary Ben Rido cited Litre and Cherorget as some of the serious hardship zones, noting that poor infrastructure, insecurity, and harsh terrain made the hardship allowance essential for teachers.
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Removing these allowances will not only demoralise teachers but will directly affect learner performance,” Rido warned.
The educators raised the alarm over numerous challenges they face in the line of duty, as they oppose a proposal to abolish hardship allowances in the region.
The teachers, who have intensified their calls for government reconsideration, say the move to deregister the county as a hardship area is unjustified and would force many of them to leave the region.
“This county has rugged terrain, insecurity, and limited infrastructure.
Scrapping the allowance is like punishing teachers who have endured so much to keep schools running,” said one of the protesting teachers.
The teachers are now appealing to local elected leaders for urgent intervention to lobby for reversing the decision. They warn that if the allowance is removed, schools in remote areas may be left without teachers, worsening the already struggling education standards.
“Our appeal is simple — let those in charge walk with us and understand what we go through before making such life-altering decisions,” another teacher added.
The outcry adds to growing pressure on the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC), which recently gazetted the plan to delist Elgeyo Marakwet from the hardship zone classification.
By Kimutai Langat
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