Githunguri Member of Parliament Gathoni Wamuchomba has expressed strong concern over the way teacher union leaders handled their recent meeting at State House.
She argued that union heads failed in their duty by not bringing up the crucial issue of hardship reclassification, which directly affects thousands of teachers across the country.
According to her, it was disappointing to see teachers and their leaders celebrating during the State House visit while the government is already moving forward with a proposal that could take away a benefit teachers in hardship zones have relied on for years.
Wamuchomba pointed out that the government plans to reclassify hardship areas, meaning many teachers will lose the hardship allowance they currently enjoy.
This change, she explained, will touch more than 119,000 teachers spread across 35 counties and over 129 sub-counties. She based her concerns on a report tabled in Parliament by Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi, which recommends a fresh reclassification of hardship areas.
In this report, some counties and sub-counties are expected to be shifted into categories described as extreme or moderate, a move that directly affects the allocation of allowances.
The MP went on to argue that the government’s main aim in this exercise is to cut costs. She said the Treasury hopes to save up to Ksh6 billion from the allowances currently awarded to teachers working in hardship zones.
Wamuchomba questioned whether the celebrations at State House were appropriate, asking if those cheering had actually considered that their allowances could soon be taken away.
To her, this is not a matter that should be overlooked or ignored because of the far-reaching consequences it carries for teachers working in tough environments.
She warned that the new plan will remove many areas from the list of hardship zones, leaving approximately 118,000 teachers without the hardship benefits they have long depended on.
According to Wamuchomba, this will have a direct effect on the livelihoods of teachers and their families, especially those who work in remote, dry, or insecure areas where basic services are limited.
She insisted that such a serious issue cannot be brushed aside during high-profile meetings meant to address teacher welfare.
Wamuchomba also criticised the approach taken during the State House meeting, which brought together more than 10,000 teachers.
She said a gathering of that size could not possibly handle a matter of such weight in a meaningful way. Instead, she argued, this kind of issue requires structured negotiations between the government and teacher unions so that proper agreements can be reached.
She further faulted KUPPET leader Omboko Milemba, who led the delegation, for not raising the matter despite its clear impact on thousands of teachers.
In her view, union leaders have a responsibility to push for issues that touch directly on the welfare of their members, and failing to do so amounts to letting teachers down at a critical moment.
