KNUT Demands Reinstatement of KDF Helicopters for Teachers in Lamu.
The Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) has requested the government to reintroduce Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) helicopters for airlifting teachers to and from the unsafe Boni Forest region in Lamu County.
This call was made by Malel Lang’at, the union’s first National Vice Chairman, during KNUT Lamu branch’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) last weekend.
Lang’at highlighted the significant impact of withdrawing the helicopters on the education standards in the area.
Concerns Over Education Disruption
Lang’at expressed concern that the removal of KDF helicopters has left schools in Boni Forest closed, with uncertainty about where learners and teachers will operate.
He criticized the government’s inability to resolve the ongoing insecurity issue since independence, which has left local residents in constant fear.
According to him, the government should provide teachers with KDF helicopters to facilitate their transportation.
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He also condemned recent remarks made by Lamu East MP Ruweida Obo, who suggested that the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) should take disciplinary action against teachers who have not reported to their respective schools in Boni Forest.
Lang’at described these remarks as inappropriate, urging the legislator to focus on finding long-term solutions to the problem instead of issuing threats to teachers.
Legislative Solutions and Teacher Safety
Lang’at emphasized that lawmakers, including MP Ruweida Obo, should concentrate on passing laws that would allow teachers in high-risk areas like Boni Forest, Lamu East, Rift Valley, and North Eastern to carry firearms.
He pointed out that in the United States, about half of the states permit teachers to carry guns for their protection, suggesting that Kenya should adopt similar measures in response to the increasing threats against teachers in such areas.
He announced KNUT’s intention to push for arming teachers in response to the recent rise in teacher killings in insecure regions, particularly in areas plagued by banditry.
Promotion and Motivation of Teachers
Lang’at also called on the TSC to promote teachers working in Boni Forest as a way of motivating them.
This statement was supported by KNUT Lamu branch Executive Secretary, Ibrahim Sheekue, who noted that many teachers in the region had remained in the same job grade for several years.
Sheekue, who is also a National Executive Committee (NEC) member representing the Coast region, added that schools in Boni were initially closed due to insecurity and are now being used as military camps.
He stated that although the government and TSC had reopened the schools, no teachers were willing to return, partly due to the unfulfilled promise of being airlifted to and from the area.
Unmet Government Promises
Sheekue further pointed out that the government and TSC’s efforts to reopen the schools seemed to be more about creating a public perception of security.
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He revealed that while the authorities claimed they would promote teachers who accepted postings in the region to administrative positions, these promises were never realized, leaving the teachers hesitant to return.
KNUT Demands Reinstatement of KDF Helicopters for Teachers in Lamu.
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