Hardship Allowances Row: KUPPET Opposes Govt Plan to Slash Teachers’ Hardship Benefits.
The Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) has strongly objected to the government’s intended revision of 44 designated hardship zones, a move that would result in decreased hardship allowances for educators. The union criticized the government’s decision as overreaching and unilateral, especially since it was made without consulting the teachers who would be most affected.
KUPPET took issue with the announcement made by Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi regarding the degazettement of certain hardship areas. The union emphasized that no public participation had taken place, nor had teachers been engaged in discussions over the matter. KUPPET further warned that such action would undermine legally binding agreements.
The union, led by Secretary General Akelo Misori, stated that the allowances are enshrined in Legal Notices No. 534 of 1998, No. 196 of 2015, and formalized through Collective Bargaining Agreements (CBAs) with the Teachers Service Commission (TSC). Misori maintained that executive orders cannot override these legal provisions, stressing that the government lacks authority to rescind benefits it did not originate.
KUPPET questioned Mudavadi’s assertion that the proposed changes would save the government Ksh.6 billion annually. The union argued that this claim was based on findings from an Inter-Agency Technical Committee report under the Ministry of Public Service, Performance and Delivery Management, which had not been made public.
Demand for Transparency and Stakeholder Review
In response, Misori called for the immediate release of the unreleased report, insisting it must undergo public and stakeholder scrutiny before any implementation. He criticized what he described as premature policy declarations, urging the government to follow due process.
KUPPET asserted that any review of hardship zones must align with objective indicators outlined by the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS). These include factors such as access to clean water, food, health and education services, local climate, safety conditions, and poverty levels.
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Rather than reducing the number of hardship areas, the union argued that deteriorating conditions in some regions warrant their inclusion in the list. Misori pointed out that the National Assembly had already reviewed public petitions and recommended that additional regions be designated as hardship zones.
The union cited areas like Chepalungu in Bomet, Chonyi in Kilifi, and Nyatike West, North, and South, along with Rachuonyo North in Migori, as newly affected regions. These, according to KUPPET, merit inclusion due to their worsening socio-economic and environmental conditions.
Hardship Allowances Row: KUPPET Opposes Govt Plan to Slash Teachers’ Hardship Benefits.
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