You will be paid this May, Machogu tells Junior secondary school teachers

"I want to apologize to our teachers for the delay in payment. There are those that we have been unable to pay. As of today when I discussed with the CEO of the Teachers Service Commission, it was confirmed that almost fifty percent of the newly employed teachers have been paid and the other fifty percent, I'm getting information from the feed so we can pay them. I assure you that funds are available and we will be able pay expeditiously," said Machogu.

The CS was responding to a query by Nominated MP Sabina Chege on the delayed payment of salaries. He said the delayed salaries was occasioned by different reporting times of the teachers to the schools they were posted.

A spot-check by The Standard revealed that the teachers reported to their workstations in February and others in March.

MachaoguHe explained that the teachers were required to report to their workstations within 30 days and an assessment carried out by the principals- which is later disseminated to the ministry.

"After posting them we rely on information from the principals on the specific days that they report so we are able to prepare payment. Some began their work later than others which might have caused the delays in processing of salaries. I however want to assure them that they will be paid on time," he said.

On Monday, TSC said that it was working to ensure that the remaining batch of teachers received their dues in May.

"We apologize for any delays that may have been occasioned by late reporting of teachers to their stations, or delayed submission of requisite documents. All efforts are being made to effect all the salaries in May," read a statement from the commission.

And in response to Isiolo MP Bonaya Golo, Machogu said plans were underway to equip the learning and teaching facilities through the construction of more classrooms and laboratories in order to accommodate the increased enrollment.

"We have challenges such as a shortage of laboratories and classrooms. We are in consultations with the world bank -our development partner- and have agreed that the funding we are likely to get will go towards navigating the infrastructural problem," he said.

Golo sought to know why Northern counties were understaffed and under-facilitated in the implementation of the Competency-Based Curriculum.