Kuppet warns as non-resident teachers in Ol Kalou seek transfer over by-election tensions

Details now indicate that at least 61 teachers have formally applied for transfers, a move the Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (Kuppet) has linked to the ongoing campaigns.

The union claimed there were reports of intimidation and ethnic profiling in parts of the county. 

Kuppet Acting Secretary General Moses Nthurima said the teachers are increasingly unwilling to remain in an environment they now consider unsafe.

“Teachers are living in fear. Those posted away from their home areas are now seeking transfers to safer regions following threats emerging during the campaigns,” Nthurima said.

He warned this risks could destabilise staffing in several schools, particularly those already grappling with shortages.

The Teachers Service Commission said it was yet to get details of the complaint.

"We have not received any official complaint yet. This is a sensitive matter, and making pronouncements without the full picture can cause disruption and panic among teachers," said Acting Chief Executive Officer Evaleen Mitei.

But the union insisted that teachers and other civil servants have increasingly found themselves caught in the crossfire of political competition.

Kuppet Chairman Omboko Milemba warned that the growing number of transfer requests indicated deteriorating security, cautioning that the situation could worsen if urgent intervention is not taken.

“We have recorded 61 teachers asking to be moved out. This is not normal. It shows there is real fear on the ground,” he said. 

The anxiety comes amid controversy on remarks attributed to Kipipiri MP Wanjiku Muhia, cautioning people who are not from Ol Kalau to leave their ATM cards and title deeds to their sons because when they may wake up in hospital, or even be dead. 

The remarks have drawn criticism from leaders who say such utterances risk fuelling ethnic division. 

Nthurima said “non-local” teachers now feel particularly unsafe. “When politics takes this direction, teachers become soft targets. They cannot teach effectively in an environment where they fear for their safety,” he said.  [Lewis Nyaundi]

Kuppet urged security agencies to rein in politicians accused of incitement and restore calm.

The union also warned of an emerging culture of political intolerance and violence, cautioning that failure to act could normalise intimidation and disrupt essential public services such as education.

The developments come at a delicate time for the sector, with schools having just stabilised after a wave of unrest.

The union warns that more teachers could abandon their stations, leaving schools understaffed and learners without instructors, particularly in critical subjects if the situation persists.