TSC told to stop charging 'illegal fee'

Kenya National Union of Teachers has asked the Teachers Service Commission to stop the three per cent monthly deduction on teachers' pay, which it makes on behalf of banks and saccos.

Knut Vice National Treasurer John Matiangi said TSC is funded by the Government and wondered why "it would want to tax teachers twice".

"There has always been a percentage that teachers pay when they take loans. They are also charged a certain amount in their saccos and that is enough deduction. The service fee being charged has no legal basis," he said.

Matiangi said TSC never consulted teachers when it imposed the fee. "The law requires that consultation between the teachers and the commission ought to have been done before the implementation of the new rates," said Matiangi.

It is projected that TSC remits Sh2 billion monthly to third parties thereby making Sh60 million on the service charges.

Matiangi also asked Education CS Jacob Kaimenyi to constitute new schools management boards, saying the term of those in office had expired.