The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) has transferred the Teachers Pressure Group (TPG) spokesperson Ms Martha Omollo just one day after she called for changes in the teachers’ AON Minet medical insurance scheme.
According to the TPG spokesperson, the TPG has taken over the responsibilities of fighting for teachers’ welfare from the Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT).
Ms Martha Omollo told the media that her being transferred is malicious action from the Commission and that it was an effort to intimidate and mute her fight for the welfare of teachers across the country.
She felt that she was being silenced from voicing her concerns over the AON Minet medical cover for teachers and other injustices that the Commission has been introducing.
“I received a call on Friday from the TSC Nairobi County director through my headteachers that I should be careful what I say to the media and that if I have any issues, I should follow the procedure of going through the teachers’ unions,” said Martha Omollo.
Ms Omollo then received a transfer letter from the TSC’s head office instructing her to begin clearing immediately with every department in the school before leaving the school.
“I was surprised that the headteachers had already been given instructions about my transfer as he issued me an already typed and signed letter from the school,” added Ms Omollo.
The TSC Official’s letter had been signed by Mr Fredrick Mwaniki on behalf of the TSC Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Dr Nancy Macharia.
Ms Omollo was then instructed to report to her new station in Trans Nzoia County latest Monday.
“The Commission has decided that you be transferred from Nairobi to Trans Nzoia County with effect from November 15 to teach all subjects,” reads part of the letter from TSC dates the 12th of November 2021.
When she tried to find out the reason for such a swift transfer, Ms Omollo was told that the Commission was treating her transfer just like any other teacher transfer.
After Ms Omollo received the letter she accepted her situation and has decided to report to her new station.
When she asked about her disturbance allowance, which she actually deserves, the TSC official was tight-lipped on the issue.
“I have resolved to report to TSC’s Trans-Nzoia office on Monday so that I will be sent to the station that I am going to teach. However, after that I will move to court because it is clear that the decision to transfer me was made out of malice,” said Ms Omollo.
According to her, the normal way a TSC transfer is conducted is that a transfer letter is issued to the County TSC director, then to the sub-county director and then to the head of the institution who then hand over the letter.
“I have already told my lawyer to have a look at the issue,” said Ms Omollo.
TPG had urged changes in the AON Minet medical cover, citing frustrations that teachers experience when seeking treatment under the medical scheme.
With the AON Medical cover not being the only issue, TPG was fighting for as TPG was also urging teachers to resist the Teacher Professional Development Programme. TSC summoned her last week and urged her to stop the push for resistance for TPD.