The Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) has rejected the recent government intentions to slash the hardship allowances currently paid to teachers.
In the circular released on May 7, the union said it is against the plan announced by Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi to de-gazette some of the 44 hardship zones currently recognized by the Teachers Service Commission (TSC).
The Union Secretary General Akello Misori noted in the circular that the categorization of hardship areas are spelled in the law and Regulations, adding that the Kenya national Bureau of Statistics has published robust benchmarks including the region’s assess to food, water, transport and communication, social services, climate and terrain, security and poverty index.
“Any reduction in the current hardship areas must be informed by empirical improvements in conditions of life across all the seven benchmarks set by the National Bureau of Statistics,” Akello said.
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He went on to say that, as far as they are concerned, living conditions have worsened in many regions currently not classified as hardship areas due to insecurity and marginalisation.
He also disclosed that the National Assembly, having considered petitions from the public, has recommended that new regions, including Chepalungu, Chonyi, Nyatike West, Nyatike North, Nyatike South, and Rachuonyo North sub-counties in Bomet, Kilifi, and Migori counties, respectively, be gazetted as hardship areas.
Misori also added that legally, the current hardship allowances paid to teachers cannot be varied through executive fiat.
“The allowances are secured through Legal Notices No.534 of 1998, No.196 of 2015 and collective bargaining agreements negotiated with the TSC. A Minister cannot take away a benefit that he did not give in the first place,” Misori said.
He urged the government, especially the Ministry of Public Service, Performance and Delivery Management, to canvass its wishes on hardship allowances legally and through participation.
The Prime Cabinet Secretary in a note to the parliament last week said that the move is intended to save the government Ksh 6 billion out of the Ksh 25 billion on annual hardship allowances, claiming that the new policy is informed by the report of an inter-Agency Technical committee under the Ministry of Public Service, Performance and Delivery Management, that re-categorized hardship areas.
However, the Inter-Agency report has not been gazetted or made public, and therefore, KUPPET states that it cannot be the basis for any significant policy change. It urges the Mudavadi to release the report and subject it to the stakeholders’ scrutiny before hasty policy pronouncement.
By Brian Ndigo
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