The leadership of Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) Samburu County has condemned the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) for demoting 158 teachers from the region who it promoted a month ago.
Speaking during a press briefing on Friday, Samburu KUPPET branch Executive Secretary William Lengoiyap termed the sudden demotions as unfair.
"This is especially unfair, if you take into consideration the length of time the process took, and how vigorous the process was before the teachers were promoted," Lengoiyap said.
He described the promotion process as long and rigorous, involving applications, document submissions, and interviews conducted in different towns, including Nakuru and Maralal.
Expressing frustrations over the sudden cancellation of the promotions, the official argued that the teachers followed all required procedures and earned their positions fairly.
"There is no mistake that the teachers of Samburu and ASAL regions should be denied the positions they earned legally and procedurally. If there was a mistake, then it must have been committed by those who decided to overturn the promotions, not the teachers," Lengoiyap said.
Adding to the frustrations, the teachers are also protesting the removal of the hardship allowance from their salaries. The allowances were removed after Samburu was removed from the list of arid and semi-arid lands (ASAL) areas, entitled to allowances due to their tough working conditions.
The educators allege that this is a move to frustrate them further, arguing that the commission has been downplaying their efforts and discriminating against teachers from the region.
Many fear this will further disincentivize teachers from working in Samburu and similar areas. The educators warned that if the TSC fails to reverse its decision, Samburu teachers will mobilize for industrial action.
Benny Lekushula, Secretary of Tertiary Education for KUPPET Samburu, echoed the sentiment, saying teachers feel "orphaned" by the reversal of their promotions and the continued erosion of their benefits.
“These 158 positions were earned legally and procedurally. They must be returned. If not, we will down tools. We are dealing with a demoralized workforce,” He warned.
Vice Chairman Charles Isimalele also criticized the recommendation from the Parliamentary Education Committee, which led to the cancellation of 158 positions.
Apart from the industrial action, the teachers have also vowed to challenge the TSC decision in court, confirming that they have already filed an application seeking court orders to block the revocation of the promotions and to compel the TSC to implement the original promotion list that had been approved.
