The Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET), Kisumu branch, has raised concerns over increasing attacks on teachers by armed criminals, particularly in Nyando and Seme sub-counties.
The branch’s executive secretary, George Osura, said teachers were increasingly worried about their safety, especially during the national examination period.
Speaking to journalists in Kisumu, Osura said some teachers were at risk of being attacked and robbed as they travelled to collect examination papers from designated distribution centres in the early hours of the morning.
He called on the government to strengthen security in the two sub-counties to protect teachers and other members of the community.
Osura cited an incident in Nyando in which a teacher was attacked and killed while leaving his business premises, saying the incident highlighted the security challenges facing teachers in the area.
He also urged the government to accelerate the recruitment and promotion of teachers, following President William Ruto’s directive during World Teachers’ Day celebrations.
Osura commended the President for his stated commitment to the teaching profession, saying the recruitment of more than 100,000 teachers and the promotion of thousands of others were significant steps towards addressing longstanding concerns in the sector.
He called for the expedited review of the Career Progression Guidelines (CPG) framework for 2026, which is awaiting final evaluation and approval by the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC).
The union official also criticised what he described as unfair restrictions imposed by some health facilities in Kisumu County on teachers receiving treatment under the Social Health Authority (SHA).
He questioned the capping of outpatient services at between Sh3,500 and Sh4,000, arguing that teachers contribute towards their medical cover through SHA and should receive appropriate services.
Osura further alleged that some health facilities were limiting the number of teachers they attended to while giving preferential treatment to other civil servants.
“All civil servants, including teachers, should be treated equally when it comes to medical coverage,” he said.
He also called for better coordination of payments for teachers involved in marking national examinations, saying concerns over payment errors should be resolved before the exercise begins.
Osura said the recurring payment disputes should be addressed permanently to prevent teachers from being disadvantaged during the marking process.
Leave a comment