Teachers cry foul over failure to pay games allowances

Over 4,000 teachers who took part in the Kenya Secondary Schools Sports Association (KSSSA) National School Games in Mombasa, early this month, have not been paid their allowances.

The teachers, who played various roles in the Term One games, are each owed Sh60,000 by the Ministry of Education, money they were promised would be paid immediately the 10-day event was over.

The games are managed by teachers on and off the pitch, and each teacher was to receive Sh6,000 daily. 

Speaking to The Standard yesterday in Kakamega, Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers chair Omboko Milemba said the teachers had not been paid the dues despite having submitted their bank details as directed.

“Of the about Sh22,800 capitation paid for each student under the subsidised secondary education programme, the ministry retains money meant for co-curricular activities. This is the money that teachers who take part in activities like sports, music and drama festivals are paid,” Mr Milemba said.

Milemba claimed that ministry officials who graced the event from April 8 had received their allowances. “It is a paradox that ministry officials who don’t organise, take part or supervise the event have been paid allowances yet the main participants have not heard a word from the same ministry. These officials only grace such events to cash in on allowances.”

Initially, school principals used to release money for co-curricular activities to the national, regional and districts organising committees of such events to pay teachers who participated. The union is now calling for the students’ capitation money to be sent to schools and have the principals remit the statutory deductions to the relevant agencies.

“Of all the capitation, principals receive about Sh11,000 but they are forced to sign against Sh22,800, which is money they are not spending or have received. This makes the accounting process very difficult.

“Let the ministry stick to the process of policy making and oversight while the teachers and principals are left to implement said policies,” Milemba said.

Reached for comment, Education Principal Secretary Belio Kipsang said they had started paying teachers from Saturday through their saccos and banks, adding that it would take longer for some teachers to get their money depending on their banks.