“No Exchange of Money Will Guarantee You a Slot”—KNUT Warns Teachers

Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) Executive Secretary, Tharaka Nithi Branch, Mr. Albert Njeru Mutani, has warned teachers against individuals who are out to swindle money by promising job promotions.

Speaking during a press briefing at the KNUT offices in Chuka on Monday, Mutani noted that numerous cases had been reported during the last round of promotions, urging teachers to remain cautious and alert to potential conmen.

“Over the past week, interviews have been conducted for shortlisted teachers seeking promotions. We thank the government for allocating more funds to support promotions for all deserving teachers. I would like to issue a word of caution to those who attended the interviews: beware of individuals who ask for money to alter interview marks and promise promotions. No exchange of money will guarantee you a slot,” he warned.

Mutani also called on the government to retain successful applicants within the county, noting that the Ministry of Education had scrapped the delocalization policy to allow teachers to operate from their local areas.

“We ask that our teachers be retained in the county to fill existing vacancies. If vacancies are not currently available, let them be graded and considered when opportunities arise. Let our teachers remain in the county,” he added.

In recent education reforms, Mutani announced a new policy by the Ministry of Education stating that academic certificates will now be collected from County Directors of Education offices. According to him, schools will no longer be allowed to withhold certificates due to outstanding fee balances. He urged school heads to sensitize parents on timely fee payments to avoid learners leaving with debts.

“This is a good move, as certificates will no longer be delayed. However, for this to work, it requires strong cooperation. Parents must meet all fee obligations so that schools can operate without debts. It will take effort from all stakeholders for the system to function effectively without harming schools,” he said.

The KNUT Executive Secretary, who also serves as a National Trustee, thanked the government for releasing third-term capitation funds to schools across the country. He noted that schools, through validation, had ensured all students were captured in the system, an effort that will help eliminate underfunding and ghost schools moving forward.

“We thank the government because funds have started being disbursed to some schools. However, we urge the government to fast-track the release of funds to institutions that have not yet received them. This is an examination period, and schools need to prepare adequately. Additionally, school heads must run their institutions effectively and meet all requirements. This will help clear debts and settle payments, including pending salaries,” Mutani said.

He further emphasized the need for a well-structured feeding program for candidates during the examination period, calling on all relevant stakeholders to support the initiative through funding.

“We are preparing our students for examinations. Briefings have been conducted, and learners are well-prepared. Security agencies are ready to ensure a smooth examination period. We hope everything will run smoothly, including the transportation of examination materials to stations. We ask schools to ensure they have a feeding program in place for students during this period,” he said.