Teachers Storm TSC Nairobi Offices, Demand Transfers
Teachers originating from the northeastern region of the county staged a visit to the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) offices in Nairobi on Tuesday. Their purpose was to press for transfers due to various concerns. As depicted in a video shared by Citizen Digital, these educators raised the issue of rising insecurity in their area and made a plea to be relocated to safer zones.
Expressing their frustrations, one teacher remarked, “We reject the notion of being accompanied by heavily armed military vehicles, as if we are involved in illegal activities. The police constantly monitor us. What message does this send? Are we being pushed into danger?”
Another teacher, stationed in Mandera, lamented, “The ongoing security challenges we face in Mandera have brought us here, seeking a platform to voice our appeals.”
This situation has arisen after several months of protests by non-local residents in Mandera due to heightened insecurity. They had issued warnings about potential street demonstrations unless the government addressed their concerns satisfactorily.
Jafan Kitui, an instructor at Al Huda Primary School in Mandera East, disclosed that he had not been able to return to his hometown for over a year. He stated, “We passionately appeal to President Ruto and [Interior CS] Kindiki to prioritize stabilizing security in Mandera county. Personally, I’ve had to miss several funerals of close relatives due to the reasons I’ve mentioned.”
TSC CEO Nancy Macharia testified in March before the Senate Committee on Education, highlighting that the driving force behind teacher transfers between institutions is the requirement for equitable distribution and optimal utilization of teachers.
The decision to transfer also takes into account factors such as station vacancies, the need for replacements, staffing norms, and medical reasons certified by a registered medical practitioner.
Cavin Anyuor, TSC’s Director of Legal, Labour, and Industrial Relations, issued a statement outlining why certain teachers chose not to request a return to their home counties. The employer of these teachers also cautioned against misconstruing the reversal of the delocalization policy to imply that teachers are now required to teach not only in their home counties but also in their villages.
TSC argues that ordering all teachers to return to their home counties would lead to understaffing in areas that haven’t produced enough teachers.
Teachers Storm TSC Nairobi Offices, Demand Transfers
