TSC Fires 42 Knut Teachers As 124 Face Interdiction

The conflict between the Teachers Service Commission and the largest teachers’ union Kenya National Union of Teachers (Knut) is escalating as teachers under Knut who disrupted Competency Based Curriculum training earlier in the year were fired.

The teachers were reported to have caused chaos in CBC centres in various parts of the country preventing the training from taking place.

The teachers’ employer also promises to recover salary overpayment paid to 219 Knut members who were facing disciplinary action.

“Salary overpayment will be followed up from you per the payroll records,” read part of the sacking letters.

According to the TSC CEO Nancy Macharia, out of the 219 members, 42 were fired while 124 members of knut have been interdicted.

She also said that 30 more teachers have been issued with warning letters and will be closely monitored by their employer.

Five disciplinary cases were deferred as 17 teachers who were served with interdiction letters have had their interdiction lifted.

The knut members facing disciplinary action had been told by TSC to defend themselves in writing or get fired but Justice Byrum Ongaya had issued an order barring TSC from taking any disciplinary action against the teachers before the case filed by their union was determined.

“The respondent (TSC) is hereby ordered not to take any disciplinary action until the case is heard and determined,” ruled Justice Ongaya.

It was however found out the teachers underwent an elaborate disciplinary process before they were fired, with TSC saying that the teachers were guilty of.

“You incited teachers attending the CBC training program organized by the ministry of education in conjunction with the TSC, caused chaos and disrupted the training. You, therefore, insurbordinated the Curriculum Support Officers by ignoring their invitation to attend training on the new syllabus,” read part of the letter.

The TSC now gives the affected teachers, who during the court hearing said they were not aware of the training, three months to appeal the decision.

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