Kuppet wants uniform house allowances

By Joel Okwayo

The Government has been urged to harmonise teachers’ house allowances to curb discrepancies in their earnings.

Kenya Union of Post Primary Education of Teachers (Kuppet) on Monday said teachers should earn uniform house allowances to avoid situations where those working in major towns earn more than their colleagues in rural areas.

Kuppet Secretary General Njeru Kanyamba, National Chairman Akello Misori and First Vice Chairman Zadock Kisienya said it was unfair for teachers in same job groups working in Nairobi to get better allowances.

The officials said the Ministry of Education should review the allowances to stop teachers from seeking transfers from rural stations to schools in major towns.

Currently, teachers in job group Q earn a house allowance of Sh40,000 in Nairobi while their colleagues in the same job group take home Sh20,000 in rural areas.

On Monday, Mr Kanyamba said the union had piled pressure on the Government to have teachers joining the service promoted after three years without being subjected to interviews. He said teachers who complete masters degrees should also be given a special scheme of service by the Teachers Service Commission as a step towards retaining them in the education sector.

"We have many masters degree holders still on the same job group and this is unfair," said Kanyamba.

He said responsibility allowances needed to be put in place for heads of departments as they played a key role in management of schools.

Mr Kisienya said the union had plans to have its members undertake medical cover from the African Air Rescue (AAR) starting next year instead of being tied to the National Hospital Insurance Fund.

He said the union had signed an agreement with AAR to cater for its members’ medical needs.

Kisienya, who was in the task force appointed by Minister for Public Service Dalmas Otieno to review the pension scheme for retirees, demanded that teachers planning to quit the service before attaining 60 years be given their dues immediately.