KUPPET and TSC Clash Over Teacher Demotions Just After Promotions
The leadership of the Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) in Samburu County has expressed strong disapproval towards the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) for demoting 158 teachers from the region, just a month after they were elevated in rank.
During a press conference on Friday, William Lengoiyap, the Executive Secretary of KUPPET’s Samburu branch, denounced the abrupt demotions as unjust.
“This situation is particularly egregious when you consider the extensive and thorough process that led to these promotions,” Lengoiyap stated. He elaborated on the promotion journey, which involved a lengthy and meticulous procedure of applications, document submissions, and interviews held in various locations, including Nakuru and Maralal.
Voicing his discontent over the unexpected reversal of the promotions, Lengoiyap insisted that the teachers adhered to all necessary protocols and rightfully earned their new positions.
“It is utterly unacceptable for the dedicated teachers of Samburu and the ASAL regions to be stripped of their legally and procedurally obtained roles. If any errors were made, they originated from those who chose to rescind the promotions, not from the teachers themselves,” he asserted.
Adding to the discontent, the educators are also protesting the removal of their hardship allowances from their salaries. This change occurred after Samburu was taken off the list of arid and semi-arid lands (ASAL) areas, which previously qualified for additional compensation due to challenging working conditions.
The teachers argue that this decision is a deliberate attempt to undermine their morale, claiming that the commission has consistently undervalued their contributions and discriminated against educators from their region.
There are growing concerns that such actions will further discourage teachers from working in Samburu and similar areas. The educators have warned that if the TSC does not reverse its decision, they will organize for industrial action.
Benny Lekushula, Secretary of Tertiary Education for KUPPET Samburu, shared these sentiments, stating that teachers feel “abandoned” by the annulment of their promotions and the ongoing reduction of their benefits.
“These 158 positions were rightfully earned through due process. They must be reinstated. If not, we will strike. We are facing a demoralized workforce,” he cautioned.
Vice Chairman Charles Lesimalele also criticized the recommendation from the Parliamentary Education Committee that led to the cancellation of the 158 positions.
In addition to potential industrial action, the teachers have pledged to legally contest the TSC’s decision, confirming that they have already submitted an application seeking court orders to halt the revocation of the promotions and to compel the TSC to implement the original, approved promotion list.