Kuppet opposes move to slash Teachers’ hardship allowance, areas

The Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) has expressed its opposition to the government’s proposed review of 44 hardship zones, which would result in a decrease in hardship allowances for teachers.

The educators criticized the recent announcement by Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi regarding the removal of certain hardship areas, labeling it as an overreach. They emphasized that there was no public involvement or consultation with the teachers who would be negatively impacted by this decision.

KUPPET described the proposal as “unilateral and illegal,” warning that they would pursue legal action if the government proceeds with it, asserting that their hardship allowances are hard-earned benefits established through a Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).

KUPPET Secretary General Akelo Misori stated in a press conference on Wednesday that the current hardship allowances cannot be altered by executive order. He pointed out that these allowances are protected by Legal Notices No 534 of 1998, No 196 of 2015, and collective bargaining agreements with the Teachers Service Commission (TSC). He argued that a minister cannot revoke a benefit that was not originally granted by them.

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Teachers, Civil Servants to lose Sh6 billion in hardship allowances after review of hardship areas.

KUPPET also contested Mudavadi’s assertion that reducing hardship allowances for teachers would save the government Ksh.6 billion annually, claiming it is based on an unpublished report from an Inter-Agency Technical Committee under the Ministry of Public Service, Performance, and Delivery Management.

Misori called for the immediate release of this report, insisting that it should be open to public review before any policy changes are enacted.

He urged Mudavadi to make the report available for scrutiny by stakeholders prior to making any swift policy decisions.

According to KUPPET’s Secretary General, any changes to hardship zones should adhere to established legal and statistical criteria set by the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS), which include factors such as access to water, food, social services, climate, security, and poverty levels.

The union also pointed out that certain regions have seen deteriorating conditions and should be included in the hardship list. Misori noted that the National Assembly, after considering public petitions, has recommended that new areas, including Chepalungu, Chonyi, Nyatike West, Nyatike North, Nyatike South, and Rachuonyo North Sub-Counties in Bomet, Kilifi, and Migori counties, be designated as hardship areas.