The Elimu Bora Working Group (EBWG) has urged the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) to publish a full audit of all third‑party deductions made from teachers’ salaries over the past five years, citing concerns of alleged mismanagement by a teachers’ association.
In a press release dated 16th April,2026, the group said the demand follows revelations in an investigative report suggesting that deductions targeting female teachers may have been misappropriated. EBWG argued that the scale and persistence of the deductions point to systemic lapses that can only be addressed through a transparent audit.
“Immediately halt all unlawful deductions and publish a comprehensive audit of all third‑party deductions made from teachers’ salaries over the past five years,” the group declared.
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Beyond the audit, EBWG has petitioned the Ethics and Anti‑Corruption Commission (EACC) and the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) to carry out independent investigations. While acknowledging that the claims remain allegations, the group insisted that urgent scrutiny is necessary to determine whether the deductions qualify as legitimate union dues.
The coalition also called on the National Assembly’s Departmental Committees on Education and Labour to initiate a public inquiry into what it described as the rise of irregular entities within the education sector. According to EBWG, fragmentation of union membership and influence has created space for parallel structures through which teachers’ salaries can be accessed with minimal oversight.
The group questioned the legal basis of some deductions, pointing to section 19(f) of the Employment Act, which strictly limits wage deductions to circumstances such as collective bargaining agreements, court orders, or arbitration awards.
“Under Kenyan law, the authority to deduct from teachers’ salaries rests solely with the TSC, acting within a clear legal and administrative framework, including approvals from the Ministry of Education,” EBWG noted.
Concerns were also raised about whether teachers had consented to the deductions, potentially placing the practice in violation of both the Employment Act and the Labour Relations Act, which regulate payroll deductions and union dues. “Teachers across the country have, for years, raised concerns about unexplained and irregular deductions from their payslips,” the group added.
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In the wake of these developments, the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) has temporarily blocked the Kenya Women Teachers Association (KEWOTA) from accessing its check-off system, following concerns raised in media investigations. However, KEWOTA, through the chairperson Modesta Akaki, rejected the allegations, terming them false and misleading.
By Masaki Enock
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