Turkana County secondary schools are facing an unprecedented crisis after the sudden transfer of over 40 non-local teachers, with no replacements in sight.
The decision by the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) has left schools in the hardship-stricken region grappling with an acute teacher shortage, threatening to cripple learning and jeopardize the future of thousands of students.
The affected schools include Lodwar Boys, the county’s only national school, which has struggled to produce a straight Grade A since 2015. The abrupt transfers have dealt a severe blow to students’ academic prospects, particularly in core subjects such as chemistry and biology.
Education Leaders Outraged
The Kenya Secondary Schools Heads Association (KESSHA) and the Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) have strongly condemned the TSC’s move, calling it an unjust act that disregards the interests of marginalized learners.
Nicodemus Ingolan, the KESSHA Turkana chapter branch secretary, expressed shock at the mass transfers, which he termed “unusual and executed without a proper replacement strategy.”
“Forty teachers have been forcefully transferred to Baringo and Elgeyo Marakwet counties in a manner that has puzzled us. This is an act of mercilessly exiting teachers from Turkana without following the stipulated procedures in the TSC Act of 2012,” said Mr. Ingolan in Lodwar town.
He further accused TSC of violating the Basic Education Act of 2013, which guarantees access to inclusive and special needs education, particularly for children in marginalized areas.
Teachers Fight Back
Several affected teachers have already lodged appeals, citing that they neither initiated nor consented to the transfers. Some have argued that their removal was done arbitrarily, without recommendations from their respective school principals.
KUPPET Turkana Branch Secretary-General Michael Ekitela has issued a stern 48-hour ultimatum to the TSC to reverse the transfers and provide replacements, warning that failure to comply will result in mass protests in Lodwar town.
“We have been marginalized for too long. While the government is making efforts to uplift us, certain individuals at the Rift Valley regional office are undermining these efforts by forcefully removing teachers,” Ekitela stated.
He emphasized the severity of the situation, revealing that some schools had up to five science teachers transferred, leaving students with no instructors for crucial subjects.
Demand for Justice
KUPPET Turkana County Chairman Simon Naremo vowed to escalate the matter by writing to relevant government offices, demanding accountability from TSC officials responsible for the mass transfers.
“We will collect signatures and take lawful action against individuals in TSC who are perpetuating these injustices,” Mr. Naremo declared.
The crisis in Turkana highlights a broader issue of inequity in teacher distribution across Kenya. With education being a key driver of social and economic progress, stakeholders are calling for urgent intervention to ensure that students in marginalized regions are not left behind.
As the deadline for TSC’s response approaches, the fate of thousands of learners hangs in the balance. Will the government step in to rectify the injustice, or will Turkana’s students continue to suffer from systemic neglect?
