Reprieve for teachers in Samburu after court awards them allowances for serving in ASAL region

‎Led by Peter Letipila, the secretary of the KUPPET Secondary School Teachers Union in the area, they lamented hardships including insecurity, harsh climatic conditions and poor infrastructure, and inadequate opportunities for promotion and career development.

They further argued that teachers in ASAL areas who are deployed as Institutional Administrators do not receive acting allowances or special duty allowances despite carrying out full administrative duties.

In its defense, the Teachers' Service Commission (TSC) said that it has not discriminated against the teachers serving in the ASAL areas and instead provided preferential access to administrative positions and promotions and provided opportunities to enhance retention and local participation.

The court found that declarations and orders on the acting allowance are sufficient to vindicate the teachers' rights but declined to award compensation for the violations.

Judge Jemimah Keli ordered the TSC to put in place measures, including budgetary allocation, to pay the petitioners acting in higher positions under the guise of deployment.

"The court finds that the lack of compensation for the petitioners, who are alleged to have been deployed to higher positions without compensation, violates the right to fair labour practice under Article 41 of the Constitution," read court papers.

Kudge Keli further noted that teachers serving in ASAL and hard-to-staff regions constitute a marginalized group within the meaning of Article 56 and are entitled to affirmative action measures.

‎Secretary Letipila has urged the government to comply with the court's decision and ensure that the decision is implemented as soon as possible.

‎Brian Mabonga, a teacher in Samburu County, said teachers have been through a difficult time while the TSC recruitment commission has remained silent.

The teachers maintained that despite the relief after the victory, they will continue to fight for their demands.