Tinderet MP wants TSC to reinstate teachers fired for seeking transfers from North Eastern

Tinderet Member of Parliament (MP) Julius Melly has slammed the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) for interdicting non-local teachers on grounds of desertion of duty.

The teachers were fired for seeking transfers from North-Eastern Kenya due to insecurity reasons.

Speaking in Meteitei while opening a tuition block at Meteitei Adventist Primary School, the legislator said it was unfair for the teacher's employer to fire teachers, yet their security concerns were genuine.

Melly's demand

Melly now wants TSC to reinstate the interdicted teachers immediately and be given transfers unless the government assures them of security at their place of work.

"It is sad that the Teachers Service Commission interdicted non-local teachers over desertion of duty, yet insecurity matters in North Eastern, or rather, Mandera, are a genuine concern to our teachers.

"How can someone who is in Nairobi headquarters just issue orders of teachers being fired without listening to their queries?" Melly said.

The MP said they are backing the affected teachers who accused TSC of overstepping its mandate and who have been camping outside the commission’s headquarters, petitioning parliament to intervene, saying it was wrong for the employer to put teachers' lives at risk.

"As chair of the education committee, I even had a teacher say, 'Tunalipa police reservist 1500 ndio tuchungwe … by road hauwezi travel ni 1,100kms na air transport is KSh12,000, we can’t afford', these are issues TSC ought to have considered," he added.

In letters sent to the affected teachers and seen by People Daily Digital, the Nancy Macharia-led commission cited a violation of the Teachers Service Commission Act, stating: “I am directed by the Teachers Service Commission to say that it is alleged that you have breached clause (b)(iv) of the Third Schedule of the Act in that: You deserted duty with effect from 09/09/2023 to date while teaching at Rhamu Day Secondary School.”

Another one read: “I am directed by the Teachers Service Commission to say that it is alleged that you have breached clause (b)(iv) of the Third Schedule of the Act in that: You deserted duty with effect from September 9, 2023, to date while teaching at Fincharo Primary School.”

“Consequently, you are hereby interdicted with effect from September 22, 2023; this applies to all the teachers who were served by the TSC.”

For weeks, the teachers have been camping at the TSC Headquarters, seeking to be transferred from the region, citing insecurity due to the terror threat of Al-Shabaab and hostility from the local community.

The teachers say TSC has not bothered to address the issues they raised.