The Kenya Union of Secondary Schools Non-Teaching Staff (KUSSNTS) has raised concerns over the recent delay and reduction in school capitation noting that the move has greatly affected their members.
The union Secretary General Nahashon Ndiemae has stated that a good number of their members have gone without salaries for up to six months causing them unbearable difficulties including inability to educate their children, having their rented houses closed, unable to afford health care and unable to feed their families, hence sinking into debts and depression.
Ndiemae has stated that unless the Ministry of Education moves with speed to release the capitation in full and timely, the current situation would negatively impact the national examination slated for October and November this year.
The union has noted that the situation is so dire that even retirees are not getting their service pay or gratuity leading them to retire into pain and poverty thus causing their early deaths, adding that essential safety equipment and materials is not issued to their members thus exposing them to various health risks.
The union also called on the Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) to compensate their members especially drivers and laboratory technicians for the roles they play during national examination exercise.
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“Despite the numerous letters we have written as a union to the CEO, Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC), we have never received any response concerning this issue,” lamented Ndiemae, after gracing the union National Executive Council meeting in Eldoret last weekend.
The union has also opposed the Basic Education Amendment Bill, 2025 currently before parliament and sponsored by Sirisia MP John Walukhe that that requires secondary schools non-teaching staff engaged as Bursars and Account clerks declare their assets and liabilities, and that of their spouses and children in order to safeguard public resources; stating that the accounting officer in a school is the school Principal.
The union brings together non-teaching staff in secondary schools notably Bursars, Account clerks, laboratory technicians, security personnel, secretaries, librarians, IT technicians, drivers, matrons, cateresses, cooks, janitors, artisans among others whose salaries are paid from the government capitation.
By Roy Hezron
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