Religious Leaders Criticize Tribalism and Gender Discrimination that affected Recruitment of Teachers
Religious Leaders from Nandi County have vented their anger over the Teachers Service Commission’s (TSC) alleged denial of employment of female teachers based on their counties of birth.
The Head of AIC Nandi Region Bishop Patrice Chumba and Rev. Dr. Peter Rono of Kapsabet Pentecostal Church has called on TSC to intervene and give a directive that all affected female teachers be employed.
According to the religious leaders, this move by the Commission is discriminatory and goes against the spirit of integration.
The religious leaders feel the Commission does not recognize marriages and that candidates should instead apply for employment from their respective counties of birth.
This mars Kenya’s international stand regarding the empowerment of women and respecting family values.
One of the teachers posted online revealing that he had been told by the Tharaka North TSC sub-county director not to report the following day because there had been ‘changes’. The teacher revealed that the TSC sub-county director had inquired about the teacher’s home sub-county before notifying the teacher not to report.
“I was disqualified on the basis that though I was qualified for the job, I did not come from that area. With my home sub-cunty being Meru South in Tharaka Nithi County and the Sub-County I desire to work in Tharaka North,” posted the teacher.
Bishop Chumba said that denial of employment for female teachers who come from other regions but are married to males from Nandi County is more prominent in Chesumei sub-county.
He called on TSC to reconsider its decision and hire the affected teachers.
“If the Commission wants them to be posted back to their counties of birth, they should do so instead of denying them employment opportunities,” he said.
The female teachers in question graduated from their respective institutions between 2014 and 2018 and were expected to be among the 35,000 teachers that the government was planning to recruit.
The teachers come from Laikipia, Baringo, Nakuru, Kericho, Kisumu, Uasin Gishu, Trans Nzoia, Vihiga, Kakamega, Bungoma, Kisii, and Elgeyo Marakwet regions.
Despite providing proof of marriage, they were allegedly stopped from collecting their employment letters in various Nandi sub-county TSC offices.
“It is important that TSC addresses these allegations and ensures that their hiring decisions are based on qualifications, experience, and availability of positions, rather than on factors such as county of birth or local residency. Am affected by such,” protested Nancy Natasha, one of the affected teachers.
Bishop Chumba called for justice for these women, saying that it is not a crime for them to be married away from their homes.
This aligns with the national integration process and could help end tribalism in the country.
The two clerics spoke over the issue following the ending of the Sunday service in Kapsabet Town.
The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) is yet to issue a response over the same.
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