Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) Secretary General, Collins Oyuu, has urged Teachers to treat safety and standards manuals as their bible in daily service delivery, warning that lapses in compliance expose both learners and educators to grave risks.
Oyuu said teachers are often the first to be blamed when tragedies occur, citing the recent Utumishi Girls Senior School dormitory fire that claimed the lives of 16 students.
“You see, we are the first to be blamed when incidents like that of Utumishi Girls’ occur,” Oyuu said
Speaking during a burial ceremony in Wote, Makueni County, Oyuu described the incident as deeply traumatising and called for urgent reforms in school safety oversight. “As we celebrate life well lived, sadly, we are talking of life that was not lived well at all. It is not easy, very traumatising to lose a young one who is a future and darling to you,” he said.
Oyuu insisted that quality assessment officers must regularly inspect schools to ensure compliance with safety standards. He cautioned against politicising the tragedy, noting reports that the dormitory lacked an emergency exit. He also revealed that at least eight students had already been arrested in connection with the arson, stressing that learners cannot be left unchecked when involved in crime.
The union boss questioned the erosion of parental care, saying some students were overheard whispering about plans to torch the school. He urged leaders, including Members of Parliament, to take the matter seriously and called for fact‑finding to prevent the spread of misinformation. “We want to know what went wrong at Utumishi and its cause. Where was the lapse in quality assessment?” he asked.
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Beyond safety, Oyuu addressed broader education issues, including teacher promotions, urging the government to allocate Sh2 billion in the next financial year to effect promotions. He also criticised inadequate capitation funding, saying principals and head teachers cannot continue running schools on debt.
He described the Career Progression Guidelines (CPG) as “the elephant in the house,” noting that while 100,000 new teachers have been recruited, the system still faces acute shortages, leaving existing staff overwhelmed. “Kazi kama ndovu, mshahara kama sungura,” he remarked, highlighting the heavy workload against poor pay.
On examinations, Oyuu warned that teachers would no longer invigilate without compensation, insisting that the Kenya National Examination Council (KNEC) must pay for services rendered.
Despite the challenges, Oyuu welcomed Parliament’s recent stance on teacher matters, promising that KNUT would continue fighting for educators’ welfare.
By Lydia Ngoolo
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