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Teachers in Kajiado have raised concerns over the recent promotion and appointment of school administrators, accusing the process of favouritism and lack of transparency.
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The educators claim that recent leadership changes in several schools appear to favour individuals perceived to be from within the local area, with some appointments allegedly overlooking merit based competition.
A section of teachers in Kajiado County have raised concerns over the recent promotion and appointment of school administrators, accusing the process of favouritism and lack of transparency.
In a letter addressed to the county branch of Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) executive secretary Martin Koikai the teachers claim that recent leadership changes in several schools appear to favour individuals perceived to be from within the local area, with some appointments allegedly overlooking merit based competition.
The teachers further allege that the promotions and deployments may not have fully adhered to the regulations of the Teachers Service Commission (TSC), particularly the Career Progression Guidelines (CPG), which are intended to guide fair and merit-based advancement within the teaching profession.
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According to the concerns raised, some of the newly appointed principals and deputy principals are reported to hold lower job grades, such as C3 to C5, while serving in schools where their deputies are classified in higher job groups, including D1 and D2. This, the teachers argue, raises questions about consistency and fairness in the application of promotion criteria.
The letter emphasizes that leadership appointments in schools should be based on qualifications, experience, and demonstrated performance, warning that any perception of bias could undermine trust in the education system.
“Whether this perception is accurate or not, it is important that the process be transparent and capable of withstanding public scrutiny,” the letter reads in part, adding that school leadership must inspire confidence among staff, learners, and stakeholders.
The teachers have called on the KUPPET county leadership to publicly address the concerns, seek clarification from the TSC on the criteria used in the recent appointments, and advocate for strict adherence to established promotion guidelines.
They also urged the union to ensure equitable treatment of all teachers and prevent practices that could undermine professionalism and morale.
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However, some teachers speaking on condition of anonymity accused the union of failing to effectively protect members’ interests, alleging that their leadership processes have been marred by intimidation and divisions along ethnic or “local versus non-local” lines.
“The issues raised are genuine and the KUPPET in office was elected through intimidations, it was turned to locals vs. non locals affair, we were not allowed to exercise our constitution rights and I do not think the issues will be addressed by the same union, TSC should follow regulations and Career Progression Guidelines,” the teacher said.
They also claimed that limited access to promotion opportunities has pushed some educators to seek transfers outside the county in search of career advancement, while others remain stuck despite long service.
The teachers further argued that alleged irregularities in appointments could be affecting learning outcomes and discipline in schools, contributing to persistent performance challenges in parts of Kajiado County. Neither KUPPET nor the TSC had publicly responded to the specific allegations.
By Our Reporter
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