Wundanyi MP Danson Mwashako has asked Education CS Ezekiel Machogu to fast track the process of listing Wundanyi, Taveta subcounties and Rong'e Zone in Mwatate as part of hardship areas.
He said teachers in some parts of Taita Taveta county do not receive hardship allowances despite the National Assembly recommending it.
More than 1,000 teachers working in the county had in 2019 petitioned the National Assembly over the matter. They demanded that the Teachers Service Commissions be compelled to pay them hardship allowances.
The teachers said they had been neglected and sidelined despite the area being among the places where teachers are entitled to the allowance.
“It is unfortunate that this matter of hardship allowance for our teachers is still outstanding despite Parliament recommending it. Hundreds of teachers have continued suffering for lack of allowances,” the legislator said on Monday.
The teachers, Mwashako said, have been pushing to have the whole county classified as a hardship area since 2011.
He said time has come for all teachers to be factored in the allowances.
Only teachers in Voi subcounty and some parts of Mwatate subcounty get hardship allowance at a rate of 30 per cent of their basic salary.
For instance, most areas like Kishushe, Mwanda and Wumingu in Wundanyi have not been designated as hardship areas despite their deplorable road networks, harsh climatic conditions, water scarcity, and human-wildlife conflicts among other prevalent problems.
“Teachers in other parts of the county have not been receiving the allowance despite their deplorable road networks, harsh working conditions,” he said.
Mwashako further asked other county leaders to join forces in pushing the CS to pay the allowances in a bid to cushion teachers from poverty. He said the disparity in allowances among teachers had negatively affected education in the region.
He further revealed that Machogu while appearing before the National Assembly last week, hinted that they are compiling a list with an intention of sorting out the matter.
“I hope the government will not give excuses of lack of money and deny what is rightful entitlement to our teachers. We will not relent but keep pushing until something happens,” the legislator added.
-Edited by SKanyara
