Kenya Union of Secondary Non-Teaching Staff (KUSSNTS) has applauded the government through the Ministry of Education for releasing Ksh 26 billion as senior school term 1 capitation for public basic education institutions before the start of 2026 academic year.
Speaking to Education New, Nahashon Ndiemae, the union Secretary General said that the timely disbursement of capitation funds would spare workers the similar sufferings they encountered last year over reduced and delayed capitation.
He also stressed on payment of delayed salaries and gratuity.
“Now that schools have received funding , we expect that the salaries, now pending will be paid without further delay , including the payment of service gratuity owed to staff who went into retirement last year .” he stated.
In 2025, President Ruto acknowledged the vital and critical role played by school workers contributing to the success of CBE and promising no salary will be slashed and promptly release of capitation in future.
“In the new CBE dispensation, senior schools non-teaching staffs play very important roles in support of curriculum delivery in various vital fields. Their fair and timely remuneration create a motivated and productive work force their by contributing to the success of CBE” he said
Notably, the union Secretary General also pointed out the segregation of personal emoluments funds and service gratuity for an easy access explaining the problems the workers encounters. He further urged the ministry to be specific on the allocation of funds for every item under the vote head to avert confusion.
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“Since the commencement of free day secondary schools education, the ministry have been sending the personal emoluments funds meant for staff salaries lumped under one vote head with other budget items including local transport and travel, administrative costs, electricity water and conservancy making it impossible to know how much of the allocated funds was meant for staff salaries thereby disadvantaging the employees” he explained
Referring to the constitution, Ndiemae clarified the functions of the county education board in support to the Ministry of Education stating that there is nothing wrong with the body employing school workers and that they are looking forward to it. He also questioned the employment of inexperienced staffs in some schools.
“It’s very unfortunate to note that while some institutions are laying off qualified , experienced staff due to low students enrollment, another institution is advertising and employing inexperienced staff. Why can’t they just be transferred to where their services are needed? Again, working in one station from first employment day to the retirement is a bad HR practice” he wondered.
“Again under the basic education Act no 14 of 2013, nothing stops the board from carrying out any other functions as may be assigned by the ministry of Education. Section 18 (n) states that the board may perform such other functions as be necessary for the better carrying out any other functions of the county education board under the act or any other written law “he added.
Ndiemae also raised the issue of unfair payment of school workers urging the ministry to pay workers based on their profession and experience and not according to the school cluster while encouraging the workers who are not members of the union to join.
“Non-teaching staff shouldn’t be disadvantaged by enrollment decisions made by the ministry or the BOMs. In fact , nothing under section 59(P) of the basic education Act as well as section 18 of its attendant regulations (2015) suggest in any way that salaries for senior schools non-teaching staff should be based on enrollment or school cluster other than merit ,qualifications and experience . Therefore we don’t expect any discrepancies in staff salaries with similar qualifications and performing similar tasks. NTS pay should be harmonized” He noted.
By Vicky Kiptoo
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