The Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) now wants the government to increase hardship allowances for teachers in areas affected by insecurity to boost their morale.
KNUT First Vice National chairperson Joseph Malel Lang’at lamented the wanton killing of teachers in these areas.
“We have just buried a blind teacher in Baringo County who was a victim of banditry since he was young. Another teacher was attacked in Baringo and we have lost more than five in Samburu. Schools are closed, and in Transmara, we have lost many teachers,” he recounted.
He said the government should fulfill the promise to station National Police Reservists (NPRs) in all schools in banditry zones.
This comes as many teachers face different security challenges around the country, with many being attacked and killed in the volatile areas.
He said the union is also opposed to the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) Amendment Bill, 2024, arguing that it is not in their best interest, and all that they want is newly employed teachers to be placed on a permanent and pensionable scheme.
West Pokot KNUT Secretary Martin Sembelo said the area is marginalized and the government should reinforce security in schools.
“The temperatures in Masol and Ptiki are above 42 degrees centigrade. Teachers there must be compensated for working under these conditions,” he said.
He castigated the government for stopping the EduAfya medical cover for learners.
“The government should reinstate the medical cover for learners. Some learners have underlying sickness but they come from poor families. Many have dropped out of school,” he said.
Sammy Borr, KNUT National Executive Council (NEC) member representing Rift Valley, said the Parliamentary Committee on Education was wrong to summon their officials over teachers’ data.
“TSC is the custodian of all teachers’ information. What information does the committee want from KNUT? There is a data protection law and it cannot be issued left and right. There is no complaint that warrants that summons. That is pure malice,” he said.
Borr, who is also the secretary for Chepkoilel branch, rubbished the payment of fees through E-citizen, saying there was no public participation.
“We were not involved in the arrangement. Some parents pay school fees in kind. The constitution is very clear on public participation. Can you upload maize, goats and firewood to the E-citizen platform? It is ill-advised and it needs research and wider consultation,” he said.
Observing that they defended TSC when it was going to be struck out of the constitution, he said the commission was now fighting back because some roles were taken back to the ministry.
“We created TSC and we can dismantle it. We stood our ground when TSC was about to be disbanded in the constitution-making process in Naivasha,” he said.
The officials spoke in Kapenguria during the elections of West Pokot KNUT Vice Chairperson and Woman representative.
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By Kiplat Kaptuya
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