The offices of the Kenya Women Teachers Association (KEWOTA) in Hurlingham, Nairobi, were allegedly broken into on Tuesday night, adding a fresh twist to the mounting troubles facing the association.
Unknown individuals are reported to have gained access to the premises and made away with an unspecified number of computers and servers believed to contain sensitive financial and payroll-related data.
The incident comes at a time when the association is under intense public scrutiny over alleged irregular deductions from teachers’ salaries.
The reported break-in occurred just hours before the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) announced the suspension of KEWOTA’s access to the payroll check-off deduction system.
In a letter dated April 15, 2026, TSC Acting Secretary and Chief Executive Officer Ms. Evaline Mitei said the commission had “observed with utmost concern” media reports regarding purported unauthorized deductions benefiting KEWOTA.
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The commission subsequently resolved to suspend all KEWOTA-linked deductions from the April payroll with immediate effect, pending further investigations.
TSC stated that the decision was made in line with Section 11(d) of the Teachers Service Act and existing third-party deduction guidelines.
KEWOTA has recently been at the centre of allegations that it deducted Sh200 monthly from the salaries of approximately 95,000 female teachers through the TSC payroll system.
Investigative reports further claimed that the association’s top officials employed relatives and close associates and awarded them hefty salaries.
The timing of the alleged break-in has raised eyebrows among observers, with some questioning whether critical digital evidence may have been targeted.
Analysts have called on the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) to urgently secure the premises and conduct a forensic examination of any remaining equipment.
Teachers affected by the deductions are now demanding transparency, accountability and assurances that their financial data has not been compromised.
As the independent inquiry launched by TSC gets underway, the break-in adds another layer of uncertainty to an already unfolding controversy.
What began as allegations of payroll impropriety has now escalated into a matter involving potential criminal investigations, data security concerns and institutional accountability.
By Kithinji Njeru
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