The Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) has issued a stern warning to the government over a plan to revise hardship zones, a move that could slash teachers’ hardship allowances by billions. The union now threatens to move to court if the changes are implemented without due process.
According to KUPPET Secretary General Akelo Misori, the proposed move—reportedly based on an unreleased Inter-Agency Technical Committee report—lacks public participation and has not been discussed with affected stakeholders, including teachers on the ground.
“Legally, the current hardship allowances paid to teachers cannot be varied through executive fiat,” Misori said during a press briefing on Wednesday, referencing hard-won gains secured through previous Collective Bargaining Agreements (CBAs) with the Teachers Service Commission (TSC).
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Why KUPPET Says the Move is Illegal
Misori explained that hardship allowances are protected under Legal Notices No. 534 of 1998 and No. 196 of 2015, and can only be reviewed through a legal and consultative process—not unilateral announcements.
“A minister cannot take away a benefit that he did not give in the first place,” Misori emphasized, indirectly referencing Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi’s statement that the proposal could save the government Ksh6 billion annually.
Union Demands Report Release and Public Scrutiny
The union is now demanding the immediate release of the committee report said to be driving this policy shift. “We urge Mudavadi to release the report and subject it to stakeholders’ scrutiny before making hasty policy pronouncements,” Misori added.
KUPPET further insists that any changes to hardship zones must align with statistics from the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS), including access to water, climate, poverty levels, food security, and public service access.
Some Areas Worsening—KUPPET Wants New Regions Added
The union also noted that worsening living and working conditions in certain counties should qualify them for new hardship designation. Among areas suggested for addition are:
- Chepalungu (Bomet County)
- Chonyi (Kilifi County)
- Nyatike West, North, and South (Migori County)
- Rachuonyo North Sub-County (Homa Bay County)
“The National Assembly, having considered petitions from the public, has recommended that these regions be gazetted as hardship areas,” Misori noted.
What It Means for Teachers
If the government proceeds with its proposal without involving stakeholders, thousands of teachers could lose significant portions of their monthly pay, despite already working in underdeveloped and insecure conditions.
KUPPET has promised to use every legal means to stop the implementation unless the government backs down or initiates proper consultations.
