Reprive as Elgeyo Marakwet County set to convert ECDE teachers to PnP by March 2026

The County Government of Elgeyo Marakwet has announced plans to convert Early Childhood Development Education (ECDE) teachers to permanent and pensionable terms effective March 1, 2026, following recent protests by the educators demanding improved employment conditions.

The County Public Service Board said it has finalized most of the groundwork required for the transition. “A comprehensive verification exercise of all ECDE teachers is currently underway and is expected to be completed by February 27, 2026. The exercise will pave the way for the issuance of appointment letters on permanent and pensionable terms.”

In a statement, County Executive Committee Member (CECM) for Education and Technical Training, Purity Koima, said the salary increment implemented in recent years was only one aspect of the broader plan to transition teachers to permanent terms.

She noted that since the 2023/24 financial year, the county has been processing Personal File (PF) numbers for all ECDE teachers, a process that has now been completed.

She added that all teachers are currently being paid through the HRIS-K system, a move described as a precursor to their conversion to permanent and pensionable status. Additionally, all ECDE teachers have been enrolled in a comprehensive medical cover since 2022.

Koima said the conversion process is now at its final stages and appealed to the teachers for patience, assuring them that their demands are genuine and that the county government has not ignored their concerns.

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Governor Wisley Rotich’s administration has, she said, taken deliberate steps to improve the welfare of ECDE teachers since assuming office. “In the 2023/24 financial year, the county allocated Ksh 136 million for additional salaries for ECDE teachers. Each teacher received a progressive annual increment of Ksh 4,000 as the county lobbied for increased resources through the equitable share allocation.” She said

As a result, the highest-paid ECDE teacher’s salary rose from Ksh 14,000 per month to Ksh 26,000 in the 2025/26 financial year, while the lowest-paid teacher’s earnings increased from Ksh 10,000 to Ksh 22,000. Overall, each teacher has received a cumulative salary increment of Ksh 12,000 since the 2023/24 financial year, which was the first full financial year under the current administration.

Currently, ECDE teachers in the county fall under three categories based on their year of employment. The highest category earns Ksh 26,000 per month, the second earns Ksh 24,000, and the third earns Ksh 22,000.

Koima urged the teachers to acknowledge the tangible steps taken by the county government to establish a dignified pay structure, saying the measures demonstrate the administration’s good faith and commitment to improving their welfare.

By Obegi Malack