Over 400 Teachers From West Pokot Quit Teaching to Join Politics
Education Stakeholders have raised concerns following the mass departures of over 400 teachers from West Pokot County to join politics.
Speaking to the press, Martin Sembelo, the West Pokot Kenya National Union of Teachers (Knut) National Executive noted that the departures had been recorded since 2013.
He further noted that most of the tutors had left teaching for political jobs in the county and national government – arguing that they were more lucrative.
“Some have been employed by the county assembly, some are elected MCAs and even MPs and others are nominated. We fear more teachers will go and this will affect learning,” Sembelo stated as per Nation.
He further called on the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) to employ more tutors to the county.
Other stakeholders reckoned that tutors feared visiting the region owing to increased attacks, mostly from banditry activities.
Sigor MP Peter Lochakapong, who worked as a teacher at some point, also noted that since devolution required delocalisation of teachers, most of the tutors had opted to join other professions.
“The poor terrain, harsh climatic conditions and insecurity are a threat to new teachers. Many opt to go away. A teacher from Bungoma County, where there are no sharp hills, cannot teach in West Pokot County because he or she is not used to tough terrain.
West Pokot TSC Director Bernard Kimachasi corroborated with the teachers confirming that the region had a deficit of 2,800 teachers for both Primary and Secondary schools.
In October 2021, the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) launched a drive aimed at returning over 250,000 children to school in 16 counties in Kenya.
