- Special Needs Education teachers want Parliament to enforce recommendations on grading, career progression and payroll placement.
- They say some qualified SNE teachers remain wrongly placed despite provisions of the 2018 Career Progression Guidelines.
- The teachers are also demanding fair promotion opportunities, stronger KUSNET representation and support for learners with special needs.
Special Needs Education (SNE) teachers are calling for the urgent implementation of Public Petition No. 76 of 2023, which they say seeks to address longstanding concerns over their grading, promotion, career progression and representation.
Speaking in Meru, the teachers, led by their National Chairman Edwin Juma Gituma, said they have continued to serve the country with dedication despite facing numerous challenges in their careers.
Gituma said SNE teachers have welcomed commitments made by the government to recognise their specialised role, but expressed concern that some of the promises have yet to be reflected in their grades and payslips.
He cited a commitment made by President William Ruto at State House that SNE teachers would be awarded one grade, saying teachers received the announcement with optimism. The pledge was made during the September 2025 “Waalimu na Rais” engagement at State House, where the President said SNE teachers would move up one job group.
“The promised adjustment has not been reflected in the grades and salaries of many SNE teachers,” Gituma said.
The teachers also raised concerns over recent Teachers Service Commission (TSC) promotion advertisements, saying SNE teachers have not been provided with specific promotion opportunities that adequately recognise the specialised nature of their work.
They want the situation corrected, saying SNE teachers should be accorded fair, transparent and equal opportunities for career progression.
Another major concern raised by the teachers is wrongful placement and grading, where they said that under the 2018 Career Progression Guidelines, the entry grade for SNE teachers is C2, yet some qualified teachers remain in grades B5 and C1.
“We are calling on TSC to conduct a nationwide audit of SNE teachers’ grades and payroll placement, correct cases of wrongful placement and ensure affected teachers receive all benefits arising from their rightful grading,” Gituma said.
The teachers are also calling on the National Assembly Committee on Implementation to urgently ensure full implementation of Public Petition No. 76 of 2023.
According to the teachers, the petition was considered by the Public Petitions Committee, its report presented to the House and subsequently adopted by the National Assembly on February 24, 2026.
Parliamentary records confirm that the motion on the petition was debated on February 18, 19 and 24, 2026 and was adopted.
The petition concerns alleged discrimination by TSC in the career progression of SNE teachers and specifically addresses inconsistencies between payroll titles and the 2018 Career Progression Guidelines.
The teachers say the recommendations require the alignment of SNE grades and job titles with the 2018 Career Progression Guidelines, with implementation backdated to 2017 to enable affected teachers to receive accrued benefits.
The Public Petitions Committee indeed recommended that TSC, together with the relevant Public Service ministry, align SNE grades and job titles with the 2018 guidelines within six months of adoption and backdate implementation to 2017 so affected teachers receive benefits arising from the alignment.
Given the February 24 adoption date, the six-month period would have elapsed in late August 2026.
“We want the Committee on Implementation to summon the relevant authorities, establish why the resolution has not been implemented and ensure its full and timely implementation, including the 2017 backdating and payment of accrued benefits,” Gituma said.
Teachers want stronger KUSNET representation
The teachers have also called on KUSNET leadership to strengthen the representation of SNE teachers.
They are demanding the establishment of functional KUSNET offices in all 47 counties, saying this would enable SNE teachers to access representation, guidance and support closer to their workplaces.
“We further want TSC and KUSNET, subject to applicable legal requirements and teachers’ authorisation, to ensure that deductions for teachers who have duly joined the union are processed as union dues rather than agency fees, without unnecessary delays,” Gituma said.
The teachers say their message is clear: they want fairness, recognition and implementation of commitments and resolutions already made.
“Our key demands include honouring the one-grade promise to SNE teachers, correcting wrongful grading and placement, providing fair promotion opportunities for SNE teachers, fully implementing Public Petition No. 76 of 2023, including backdating to 2017 and payment of accrued benefits, and strengthening KUSNET representation across all 47 counties,” Gituma said.
The teachers said SNE educators play a critical role in supporting some of the most vulnerable learners in society, adding that their work requires specialised skills, commitment and sacrifice.
They are also calling on the government to strengthen support for special-needs learners through the school feeding programme.
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The teachers say many learners come from vulnerable households where affording even a single meal can be a challenge, and that adequate nutrition is essential to their learning and wellbeing.
By Jeff Mwangi
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