Early Childhood Development Education(ECDE) teachers in Migori County have dismissed reports circulating on social media alleging that they earn as little as Ksh4,000 per month, terming the claims misleading and far removed from the actual remuneration structure.
The teachers, who are permanently employed by the County Government clarified that their monthly earnings range between Ksh28,000 and Ksh37,000 depending on academic qualifications and job grading.
The clarification comes amid heightened online debate following recent Senate appearances by county governor over the welfare of ECDE teachers, where issues of remuneration and employment terms were raised.
At a press briefing in Migori town, several ECDE teachers led by Huldah Ogutu rejected the viral claims, saying they do not reflect the reality of county payroll structures.
Displaying their payslips, Ogutu said she and other permanently employed teachers receive a stable monthly income far above what has been circulated online.
“I am a permanently employed teacher, I don’t earn Ksh4,000 as being displayed in the social media,” said Ogutu.
She urged members of the public and social media users to verify information before sharing it, warning that misinformation was harming the image of ECDE teachers and politicising the education sector.
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Ogutu further noted that the county government has been consistent in salary payments, adding that there are currently no delays or arrears affecting permanently employed ECDE teachers.
Another teacher, Nixon Ouma from God Jope in Kwa Ward, explained that the controversial Ksh4,000 figure applies only to Board of Management (BOM) teachers who are temporarily engaged to address staffing shortages in some ECDE centres.
“We are not paid Ksh4,000. Those earning that amount are BOM teachers, not teachers employed through the Migori County Public Service Board,” said Ouma.
He clarified that contracted BOM teachers receive allowances based on short-term engagement terms and are not on the permanent county payroll, unlike fully employed ECDE teachers.
Ouma emphasized that permanently employed teachers receive structured salaries starting from about Ksh28,000, depending on qualifications and job group.
County Chief Officer for Education Roseline Aoko also dismissed the online claims, terming them inaccurate and inconsistent with the county’s official salary framework.
She outlined the remuneration structure for ECDE teachers, stating that certificate holders earn a basic salary of about Ksh20,500, in addition to a house allowance of Ksh15,000 and commuter allowances, while diploma and degree holders earn between Ksh28,000 and Ksh37,000.
Aoko said the county government recruits ECDE teachers through the County Public Service Board and only engages BOM teachers on temporary terms where staffing gaps exist.
She stressed that the county is working to strengthen staffing levels in ECDE centres to improve the quality of early learning across the devolved unit.
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“We remain committed to improving the teacher-to-learner ratio and ensuring that ECDE learners receive quality education under qualified and fairly compensated teachers,” she said.
The chief officer further noted that remuneration is guided by established public service guidelines and relevant salary advisory structures to ensure fairness and sustainability in wage administration.
County Director of Education Chacha Kaguri also supported the clarification, saying the county adheres strictly to approved salary structures for ECDE teachers.
He said the government’s focus remains on strengthening early childhood education through improved staffing, infrastructure development and timely payment of teachers.
Kaguri added that misinformation circulating online risks undermining confidence in the sector and creating unnecessary tension among education stakeholders.
Education officials in the county have urged the public to rely on verified information from official sources regarding teacher welfare and remuneration.
They reiterated that ECDE education remains a key foundation for the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC), and therefore requires continued investment in both staffing and teacher welfare.
Meanwhile, teachers called for more responsible reporting and public communication on sensitive issues affecting the education sector, warning that misinformation could distort public perception and distract from ongoing reforms in early childhood education.
By Kimutai Langat
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