KUPPET opposes unilateral move to cut teachers' hardship pay
KUPPET Secretary General Akelo Misori criticized the proposal, labeling it as "unilateral and illegal".
The Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) has vehemently opposed the government's plan to reduce hardship allowances in 44 designated zones across the country.
This decision, announced by Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi, has sparked controversy as it threatens to diminish benefits secured through Collective Bargaining Agreements (CBAs) and legal notices dating back to 1998 and 2015.
KUPPET Secretary General Akelo Misori criticized the proposal, labeling it as "unilateral and illegal" due to the absence of consultation with affected teachers.
Misori underscored that these allowances, crucial for teachers working in challenging conditions, cannot be altered arbitrarily without adherence to established legal frameworks.
"Legally, the current hardship allowances paid to teachers cannot be varied through executive fiat," Misori asserted during a press briefing.
He emphasized that any changes must align with rigorous statistical benchmarks, including access to essential services and prevailing socio-economic indicators set by the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics.
Furthermore, KUPPET demanded transparency regarding the cost-saving claims associated with the proposed cuts, citing an undisclosed Inter-Agency Technical Committee report under the Ministry of Public Service, Performance, and Delivery Management. Misori urged Mudavadi to release the report for public scrutiny before any policy decisions are made.
"The allowances are secured through Legal Notices No 534 of 1998, No 196 of 2015, and collective bargaining agreements negotiated with the TSC. A Minister cannot take away a benefit that he did not give in the first place," Misori asserted firmly.
In response to the government's assertion that the proposal would save Ksh.6 billion annually, KUPPET challenged the accuracy of this claim and called for evidence to support such assertions.
The union also highlighted areas where conditions have worsened, advocating for their inclusion in the hardship zone list.
Regions such as Chepalungu, Chonyi, and various sub-counties in Bomet, Kilifi, and Migori counties were specifically mentioned as needing recognition due to deteriorating conditions.