TSC offices closed as teachers protest demanding transfers
These teachers, hailing from Tharaka North, Tharaka South, and Chiakariga sub-counties, currently teach in Embu, Meru, and Kitui counties. However, following the abolishment of the delocalization policy by President William Ruto’s administration, they applied to be transferred to their respective home sub-counties.
Upon submitting their transfer letters to the Tharaka Nithi County TSC office, they were informed that the only available vacancies are in Igambang’ombe, Maara, and Chuka sub-counties.
The teachers spoke to the media on Tuesday morning, vowing to remain at the county TSC office until their requests are granted. Their protests led to the closure of the office.
A teacher from Tharaka North sub-county, currently working in Kitui County, expressed that there are several schools in Tharaka North, Tharaka South, and Chiakariga sub-counties with as few as four teachers. He stated that their colleagues were being assigned there due to the hardship allowance, while they themselves, who are from those areas, are being disadvantaged.
“We applied to be transferred to schools near our homes for various reasons, and we will not accept being deployed to other counties,” he said.
Mrs. Jane Mwangi, from Tharaka South, who has been teaching in Meru County, explained that many young teachers sought transfers to schools near their homes to reunite with their spouses and build families. She highlighted that most teachers’ marriages have suffered due to the inability to travel home frequently with their low pay.
Additionally, some teachers are transferring from hardship areas and have significant loans that they cannot repay without the hardship allowance.
Mr. Mutinda Muriungi, who has been working in Tigania East in Meru County, mentioned that the county TSC director has refused to address their concerns. Therefore, they will continue camping outside her office until their grievances are heard.
Representatives from the Kenya National Union of Teachers (Knut) Tharaka Nithi County chapter, including Njeru Mutani and Ndia Gwatia, joined the teachers on Tuesday morning, emphasizing that their demands must be met.
Mr. Mutani, also a Knut national trustee, stated that the teachers have been away from their homes for many years and should be relocated near their families’ residences.
Mr. Gwatia criticized the county TSC office for deploying teachers from other areas to Tharaka South, Tharaka North, and Chiakariga sub-counties, disadvantaging the local teachers who belong to those regions.
He mentioned that they have communicated with the county TSC director, Rosemary Sokotian, who is currently away from the office but assured them that the matter would be addressed soon.
Efforts to reach the county deputy TSC director were unsuccessful.
