Author: Hezron Rooy

Religious body Advocates for Consolidation of Bursary Funds The Supreme Council of Kenya Muslims (SUPKEM) in Homa Bay County has called on the government to streamline bursary distribution by consolidating all existing bursaries. This proposal is aimed at enhancing the efficiency and effectiveness of the disbursement process. Concerns Over Multiple Bursary Channels Abdul Masud, the Secretary for SUPKEM in Homa Bay County, expressed his concerns regarding the current structure of bursary disbursement, highlighting that the multiple channels available are prone to wastage of public funds. These channels include: Follow Teachers Updates Page On Facebook Masud argued that the existence of…

Nyamira ECDE Teachers Threaten Strike to Recover Two Years’ Back Pay Early Childhood Development and Education (ECDE) teachers in Nyamira are facing severe hardships as their pay have gone unpaid for two years. The distraught teachers, who gathered in Nyamira town, expressed their frustrations and desperation, citing the long-standing issue of delayed payments. They warned of an impending strike if their salaries are not promptly paid. The teachers accused Governor Amos Nyaribo’s administration of corruption and negligence. According to them, despite their contracts not being converted into permanent and pensionable terms, the government continues to exploit them by withholding their…

Top UASU Officials Joins Moi University Staff in Eldoret Protests On Thursday, national officials of the University Academic Staff Union (Uasu) joined the lecturers of Moi University in demonstrations held in Eldoret town, advocating for their demands to be met. The lecturers are primarily seeking the payment of delayed salaries and the full implementation of their 2017-2021 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA). Uasu’s national leadership, represented by chairperson Grace Nyongesa and secretary-general Constantine Wasonga, issued a stern warning that they may call for a general strike across all universities if the lecturers’ grievances are not promptly addressed. They criticized the government…

Egerton University Wins the Inaugural East African Moot Court Competition in Tanzania Egerton University emerged as the champion of the inaugural East African Moot Court Competition, held recently in Arusha, Tanzania. This victory marked the university’s first win in the competition, as highlighted by Dr. Ruth Aura, Dean of the Faculty of Law. Dr. Aura reported that the university’s team, comprising law students William Anthony Kanani, Evelyn Mogere, Said Salim, and Pauline Nduta, outperformed their peers to secure the top position. The competition featured 16 participants from East African countries, including Tanzania, Kenya, and Uganda, and was hosted by the…

KUPPET Raises Alarm Over Critical JSS Teacher Shortage in Kwale Leonard Oronje, the Secretary of the Kwale branch of the Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET), has raised concerns about the critical shortage of teachers in Junior Secondary Schools (JSS) across the region. He highlighted that 40% of these schools are being managed by only one teacher, which puts immense pressure on the learning process. According to Oronje, the situation forces the sole teacher to handle all subjects, which not only increases their workload but also negatively affects the quality of education. He emphasized that over 40% of…

TSC Commissioner Urges Teachers to Form a Movement Beyond Regional Divides TSC Commissioner Timon Oyucho emphasized the need for teachers to unite and establish a movement that surpasses regional divisions. Speaking at the Teso Teachers Fun Day at St. Joseph’s Kocholia Secondary School in Teso North Sub-county over the weekend, Oyucho encouraged teachers to prioritize their interests rather than serving as sycophants. He expressed his desire to see the unity of teachers evolve into a significant movement across Kenya, even though the future direction of the teaching movement remains uncertain. “I want the unity of teachers to become a bigger…

New University Funding Model: How to Appeal Your Banding The introduction of the new university funding model has caused widespread confusion and concern among students and their families. This article aims to clarify the system and guide students on how to make necessary adjustments, particularly through the appeal process. The government has implemented a means-testing instrument that classifies students into five bands, each reflecting varying degrees of financial need based on socio-economic indicators such as household income, geographic location, poverty levels, and special circumstances like disabilities. The band a student is placed in directly influences the extent of financial support…

KUPPET Members Forcefully Remove Teachers from School Amid Ongoing Strike In Nyandarua County, a group of Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) members took action on Wednesday, storming Weru Secondary School. They responded to reports that some teachers were still conducting classes, defying the union’s directive to cease work as part of the ongoing nationwide strike. The KUPPET officials arrived at the school and questioned the teachers on why they were disregarding the union’s orders. However, they discovered that the teachers instructing the students were employed by the school board in a private capacity, not as public servants.…

TSC Orders School Attendance Data For Disciplinary Action on Striking Teachers The Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (Kuppet), their union, may face disciplinary action after disregarding a court order to return to work on Tuesday. Despite the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) warning against absenteeism, Kuppet instructed its members to ignore the directive. As a result, the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) has directed its officers across the country to collect attendance data for the purpose of issuing show cause letters. Cavin Anyuor, the Legal Director of TSC, stated that the union had received the court order halting the strike.…

TSC Extends Internship Contracts for Teachers For 4 Months Intern teachers recruited in September last year will see their contracts extended by four months, running from September 1, 2024, to December 31, 2024, as they await confirmation in January 2025. The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) has announced that this extension will be available to those willing to renew their contracts, with the renewal process expected to be completed by August 30, 2024, ensuring no disruption in service. In the extension letters sent to intern teachers, TSC acknowledged their contributions and emphasized that the extension aims to continue enhancing their skills…