ECDE Teachers Pay Rise: Baringo County Assembly Greenlights Salary Hike Motion
The Baringo County Assembly unanimously passed a motion introduced by the Committee on Education, Vocational Training, and Information Communication Technology (ICT), chaired by Michael Chebon, requesting that the county government implement service schemes for Early Childhood Development Education (ECDE) teachers.
Teachers Updates News obtained a document stating that ECDE instructors seek salary enhancements under Article 119 (1) of the constitution and Section 88 of the County Governments Act, No. 12 of 2017, due to punitive taxation and rising living costs.
During the special assembly sitting, the committee chair, who is also a Saimo Soi Member of the County Assembly, asked petitioners why it had taken so long to address the teething challenges faced by ECDE teachers, with little progress being made to implement their schemes, which have been ignored since 2018.
The committee chair questioned the Teacher Service Commission’s registration of the ECDE instructors and their personal numbers, which represented increased salaries in contrast to their actual pay.
The petitioners, ECDE teachers, requested an explanation of the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) and statutory deductions deducted from their salaries in the absence of comparable services provided by health facilities, as well as the replacement of retired, deceased, or departing instructors.
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The committee chair read a statement from the teachers urging the implementation of the ECDE teachers’ program, which will result in adequate retirement packages.
Kevin Owango, Administrative Secretary of the Kenya County Government Workers Union (KCGWU), praised the important steps taken to fully implement the scheme of service for teachers.
The KCGWU representative emphasized that the county government was paying inadequate salaries of less than 15,000, which were illegal under the Employment Act and the Kenyan Constitution of 2010.
According to Owago, the relevant authorities will resolve other petitioners’ agreements and ensure that ECDE instructors receive their dues as stipulated in their new contract, which will take effect in July of this year.
The KCGWU County Government Branch Executive Secretary, Baringo James Chepkechei, stated that the conclusion and adoption of the report on new payment for ECDE teachers, as well as the establishment of permanent and pensionable terms of service, was a step in the right direction and a new dawn for ECDE teachers.
The union official urgently urged the county government to address the matter, as they have not honored the 2018 deal. They also stated that the union will not condone statements from the human resources director about failing to address their plight.
During the session, members of the County Assembly agreed to set aside KSh2.4 million from the county’s ward fund to fulfill the agreement.
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John Tarus, MCA for Sacho Ward, wants the county administration to ensure that ECDE instructors receive a significant rise in salary in July.
Jonathan Lopez, Vice Chairman of the Baringo County Government Workers Union, challenged Governor Benjamin Cheboi to pay ECDE teachers’ basic salary and allowances in one year rather than in installments.
He was perplexed as to why the county administration had neglected to compensate ECDE teachers, despite other counties such as Uasin Gishu, Laikipia, and Nakuru executing the agreement.
ECDE Teachers Pay Rise: Baringo County Assembly Greenlights Salary Hike Motion
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