The Kenya National Union of Teachers (Knut) is warning Members of Parliament against attempts to interfere with the planned countrywide hiring of teachers.
Knut is accusing MPs of encroaching on the mandate of the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) by seeking to manipulate the process.
TSC is set to recruit 30,000 additional teachers in January.
MPs have been convening meetings with their respective constituents to prepare for the process.
Some legislators are said to be meeting sub-county directors of education with the aim of influencing the recruitment of their preferred people.
Also Read: Chebukati to Testify Against ‘Cherera Four’
Knut Secretary General Collins Oyuu told the legislators to stick to their constitutional mandate.
He says the role of recruiting public schools teachers lies squarely with TSC.
Oyuu says Knut will not allow the teachers hiring process to be hijacked by political interference.
“We are telling the parliamentarians to stop indulging in the duties of TSC. According to the law, it is to the work of the TSC,” to employ teachers and not anybody else,” he said.
He was speaking during the second day of the 62nd Knut National Delegates Annual Conference in Kisumu.
At the same time, Knut wants the government promote a group of teachers who had stagnated in their job cadres for a long time as away of improving their welfare.
Oyuu, while welcoming the government’s proposal to hire additional 30,000 teachers, said the process to promote several qualified teachers was long overdue.
“We have reached our irreducible minimum on issues that wait to be addressed. Therefore, TSC must live to its promises on teachers promotion,” Oyuu said.
Meanwhile, the government has announced plans to employ 58,000 teachers annually in the proposed outlaid Education charter.
