Teachers Service Commission has retracted its earlier communication on more than 3,500 teachers missing April salary as result of not declaring their wealth.
Through short message service (SMS), the commission has assured teachers that it will not stop salary for employees who failed to declare their wealth.
“Please ignore posts circulating on social media purporting that TSC will stop salary for employees who did not comply with the requirements of Declaration of Income Assets and Liabilities.
The Commission will communicate to the affected employees individually when normalcy resumes,” read the message sent to teachers.
Early on, the commission through a circular had indicated that it will stop the employees’ salaries for Non-Compliance from March and April 2020 payrolls.
“Over 3,500 employees (secretariat staff and teachers) did not declare their Wealth within the stipulated deadline. Consequently, the Commission has stopped the employees’ salaries for Non-Compliance from March and April 2020 payrolls,” it reads.
Affected teachers were to be reinstated after confirmation in writing by their immediate supervisor indicating they have been in the service thus been teaching all along and the letter forwarded to the TSC headquarters.
“They are expected to have a confirmation in writing by their immediate supervisor indicating they have been in the service thus been teaching all along and the letter forwarded to the TSC headquarters,” read part of the circular.
The move comes amid rising concerns over the miscalculated move taken by the commission in the wake of the covid-19 pandemic.
Kuppet
At the same time, the Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers, Kuppet, as lashed out at the teachers’ employer for threatening to expunge over 3,500 teachers and staff from the payroll.
“It would be insensitive on the Commission’s part to be punishing teachers during this pandemic when other government departments are issuing temporary reprieves to citizens and foreigners for non-compliance with certain protocols during this crisis. For instance, the government has extended an indefinite extension for foreign nationals whose work permits have expired,” advises Kuppet.