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Cherang'any MP Rejects Hardship Allowance Cuts, Cites Negative Impact on Teachers and Education

Cherangany MP Mr. Patrick Simiyu has opposed plans by the government to implement a revised hardship allowance policy that could see thousands of teachers lose their benefits.

Simiyu termed the proposal by the government to cut the hardship allowance for educators in classified regions in the country as misguided and discouraging.

Speaking in Kachibora during public participation on NG-CDF and NG-AAF forum, the MP vowed to mobilize his colleagues to reject the proposal.

The Democratic Action Party of Kenya (DAP-K) MP termed the process to cut teachers' allowance as lacking transparency and equity.

"Government policies should be subjected to public participation to avoid backlash when being implemented. There is no transparency and equity in the process to cut the teacher's hardship allowance," he said.

The MP argued that the move to slash the allowance of the teachers working in the region mapped as hardship areas will discourage teachers and have a negative impact on performance.

Hardship allowance to teachers, Simiyu argued, played a significant role in education standards in the affected areas.

"The allowance is motivational and slashing it will cause a negative impact in the education performance. The government should stop implementing this policy," he said.

The move to revise the hardship allowance comes after Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi presented a proposal in Parliament, explaining that the reclassification of hardship areas was necessary due to improvements in infrastructure, social services, and economic conditions in areas that were previously designated as hardship zones.

The TSC currently recognises 44 hardship areas, compared to just 16 listed by the civil service and 21 by the judiciary. The lack of a unified framework has long caused confusion and disparity across various sectors.

 Mudavadi explained that the new system would harmonise the criteria and eliminate overlaps caused by the differing categorisation methods used by the TSC, the civil service, and other government entities.

Under the new classification, the “Extreme” category includes regions, such as Mandera, Garissa, Turkana, Wajir, Tana River, Marsabit, West Pokot, Isiolo, and parts of Baringo and Lamu. 

The “Moderate” category includes areas, such as Narok, Samburu, Suba, Kitui, Makueni, Kajiado, Kilifi, Laikipia, Nyandarua, and Kisumu’s Nyando and Nyakach constituencies.


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