The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) has announced the temporarily blocked the Kenya Women Teachers Association (KEWOTA) from accessing and using its check-off facility with immediate effect.
This follows a KTN exposé titled “Teachers Payroll Heist” and related reports on an alleged scheme involving salary deductions affecting about 95,000 teachers.
According to the exposé, KEWOTA, a 2007-registered welfare group for female educators, allegedly deducted Ksh 200 per month from teachers’ salaries.
In response, the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) suspended KEWOTA check-off deductions from female teachers’ payslips, which were scheduled to take effect on April 18.
In a statement dated April 15, the Acting Secretary and Chief Executive of the TSC, Evelyne Mitei, said the decision followed media reports regarding alleged unauthorized salary deductions involving teachers.
“The Commission has observed with utmost concern the reports broadcast by KTN on Sunday, 12ᵀᴴ April, 2026, and those published in the Standard Newspaper on Monday, 13ᵀᴴ April, 2026, concerning purported unauthorized deductions from teachers for the advantage of KEWOTA,” the statement read in part.
TSC Suspends KEWOTA Check-Off Facility Pending Inquiry
The commission confirmed the suspension of KEWOTA’s access to and use of the check-off facility with immediate effect, noting that the decision was made in accordance with Section 11(d) of the Teachers Service Act on payroll management and established third-party guidelines governing such arrangements.
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“The Commission has resolved to suspend KEWOTA’s access to and use of the TSC check‑off facility with immediate effect,” the statement noted.
Further, Mitei said the commission has concurrently initiated an independent inquiry to establish the facts and circumstances surrounding media reports alleging impropriety in the management of the teachers’ payroll.
In addition, TSC explained that the findings from this inquiry will guide the Commission’s administrative decisions on the matter, and KEWOTA will be duly informed of the outcome of the investigations.
KEWOTA Rejects Allegations of Financial Misconduct and Nepotism
In a statement on April 16, KEWOTA dismissed the media reports alleging financial impropriety and nepotism, terming the exposé malicious, false, and misleading, saying the claims do not reflect the full and accurate context of the issues raised.
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KEWOTA chairperson Modesta Akaki stated that the allegations, including claims of hiring relatives and corruption, are unfounded and amount to deliberate fabrication, noting that the source of the claims had allegedly admitted in writing that the information was unverified and misleading.
“The exposé presents a narrative that is not only misleading but also fails to capture the full and accurate context of the matters discussed,” Akaki said.
Akaki defended KEWOTA’s record, stating that the association has consistently supported the welfare, professional development, and rights of women teachers across Kenya through various programs, including capacity building, mentorship, and advocacy.
She warned that unsubstantiated allegations risk undermining public trust in institutions that play a key role in the education sector.
