The Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) has urged the government to provide military training and guns to teachers working in insecure areas around the country.
KUPPET officials who joined teachers from Isiolo County to observe the day in Isiolo during this year's Annual General Assembly said that teachers were constantly being victimized and bullied by the Teachers' Service Commission to continue working in unsafe locations.
As a result, the Union's National Secretary, Edward Obwocha, encouraged the teachers to push for the issuance of firearms, and the instructors agreed in Unison.
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Obwocha stated that a teacher cannot defend himself or herself with chalk when attackers are armed.
He stated that teachers should not be arrested while fleeing locations where their lives are in danger, opposing the recent action by the Teachers' Service Commission to arrest teachers who left areas in Northern Kenya where their lives were constantly in danger. He believes teachers should receive paramilitary training and be issued firearms to protect themselves.
Moses Kimwere, the KUPPET Executive Secretary for Isiolo, backed the plan to arm teachers, adding that paramilitary training from special forces should also be considered.
Gilbert Wafula, the union's Isiolo chairman, stated that teachers working in regions like Bassa, Oldonyiro, Merti, Sericho, and Garbatula should be issued with guns because the police had previously demonstrated their inability to defend them.
Earlier this month, Non-local teachers seeking transfers from North Eastern Kenya due to insecurity have been dealt a severe setback after the Teachers Service Commission arrested them for dereliction of duty.
The Nancy Macharia-led commission cited a violation of the Teachers Service Commission Act in letters sent to affected teachers, stating: "I am directed by the Teachers Service Commission to say that, it is alleged that you have breached clause (b) (iv) of the Third Schedule of the Act in that: You deserted duty with effect from 09/09/2023 to date while teaching at Rhamu Day Secondary School.”
Another letter read: "I am directed by the Teachers Service Commission to say that, it is alleged that you have breached clause (b) (iv) of the Third Schedule of the Act in that: You deserted duty with effect from 09/09/2023 to date while teaching at Fincharo Primary School."
"Consequently, you are hereby interdicted with effect from 22/09/2023, this applying to all the teachers who were served by the TSC."
