Non-local teachers seeking transfers from North Eastern Kenya due to insecurity have suffered a major blow after the Teachers Service Commission interdicted them over desertion of duty.
This follows a directive by the commission in September for the teachers to report to their workstations.
The affected teachers who accuse the TSC of overstepping its mandate now say they will camp outside the commission’s headquarters next week while petitioning parliament to intervene.
Geoffrey Kipng’eno Lelon is a teacher from Kericho County, based in Mandera County. Along with many others, they were not able to return to their workstations due to what he and others describe as insecurity and have been interdicted by the Commission.
“Tunalipa police reservist 1500 ndio tuchungwe … by road hauwezi travel ni 1,100kms na air transport is KSh.12,000 we can’t afford,” Lelon lamented.
In letters sent to the affected teachers and seen by Citizen TV, the Nancy Macharia-led commission cited a violation of the Teachers Service Commission Act stating: “I am directed by the Teachers Service Commission to say that, it is alleged that you have breached clause (b) (iv) of the Third Schedule of the Act in that: You deserted duty with effect from 09/09/2023 to date while teaching at Rhamu Day Secondary School.”
Another one read: “I am directed by the Teachers Service Commission to say that, it is alleged that you have breached clause (b) (iv) of the Third Schedule of the Act in that: You deserted duty with effect from 09/09/2023 to date while teaching at Fincharo Primary School.”
“Consequently, you are hereby interdicted with effect from 22/09/2023, this applying to all the teachers who were served by the TSC.”
Some of the affected teachers who sought unanimity decried the move by the TSC over fear of reprisals by the employing authority.
“I personally was called at the TSC and was informed to make only a list of those who had not gone back. Then after I made the list, to my surprise, the transfers changed to interdiction. That is why we are really agitated and confused,” Joseph, an affected teacher said.
For weeks, the teachers have been camping at the TSC Headquarters seeking to be transferred from the region, citing insecurity due to the terror threat of Al-Shabaab and hostility from the local community. The teachers say TSC has not bothered to address the issues they raise.
“TSC has failed to listen to us and do as per our request. That is what is causing desertion. I should be in school teaching because today is a working day, but nobody can work where your life is compromised,” Joseph added.
In the letters to the affected teachers, TSC outlined a 7-point appeal process before the determination of the cases. It directed the interdicted teachers on the following steps: An Invitation to make defence statements in 21 days, an opportunity to be heard by the commission in person and asked them to indicate the nearest TSC sub-county to report to once a month.
It also asked them to present any other evidence to support cases, vacate office, provide contact addresses, emails, and telephone numbers, and forfeit annual leave
The interdicted teachers now say they will protest outside TSC offices on Monday.
