After numerous complaints delocalized teachers whose requests for transfers are delayed, the Teachers Service Commission has come out to respond to them to explain.
Teachers from Taita Taveta, Nyandarua, Narok, Vihiga, Samburu, Taita Taveta, Siaya, Kakamega, Bungoma, Nandi, Laikipia, Kisii, Homa Bay, Bomet and Trans Nzoia counties had complained of frustrations in getting transfers.
“Our employer has totally ignored our humble requests to be transferred to our home counties, where we can be closer to our families. Our marriages are falling apart because of distance with little to no time of seeing our spouses,” said one of the angry teachers.
TSC Regional and County Directors have addressed the concerns saying the transfer of delocalized teachers is still ongoing and teachers who applied should be calm as their requests are being processed. In a statement, they said, as they transfer the teachers back to their areas, they also have to balance out staff to ensure schools run smoothly.
Counties such as Nandi, Embu, Nairobi, and Bomet are said to be overstaffed hence making the balancing of teachers a rocky task. Also, teachers especially those in secondary schools seek inter-county or inter-regional transfers but the lack of replacement is also making the exercise difficult.
“There are still many transfer letters already processed at the Headquarters and only awaiting dispatch to various Counties for teachers to pick. We call upon teachers to seek help from the TSC County and Regional Directors offices in case they have nagging issues on transfers,” said the directors in a statement.
TSC was given till 31st January by Parliament to ensure all delocalized teachers who applied for transfers have been moved unconditionally. On 25th January the National Assembly Speaker, Moses Wetang’ula, added a punch to TSC after he ruled that the delocalization policy is illegal as there was no parliamentary approval of the policy.
While appearing before MPs, TSC board chair Jamleck Muturi and head of legal affairs Calvin Awuor were ordered to ensure the lawmakers on delocalization of teachers is implemented. The Education Committee chaired by Tinderet MP Julius Melly gave the commission up to the end of January to ensure all teachers who had been delocalized have been transferred back to their areas.
