Kitui Senator Enoch Kiio Wambua. Photo Courtesy 
By Andrew Mbuva
Kitui Senator Enoch Wambua has called on the Senate Standing Committee on Education to urgently intervene and address longstanding concerns over the welfare of teachers serving in arid and hard-to-serve areas of Kitui County.
Raising the matter in the Senate, Wambua decried what he termed as glaring disparities in the allocation of allowances meant for teachers working in Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (ASAL), despite the county being largely arid.
“Kitui County is predominantly an arid region. However, a significant number of teachers in the county do not benefit from the special allowances and considerations provided by the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) for those serving in ASAL and other hard-to-serve areas,” said the Senator.
In his statement, Wambua is seeking clarity on which wards within Kitui have been designated by the government as ASAL and hard-to-serve areas. He further wants the Committee to spell out the criteria used in determining which areas qualify for these classifications.
He noted that the lack of equitable access to the hardship allowances has demoralized many teachers who work under difficult conditions, yet remain excluded from the scheme.
The Senator is also demanding a comprehensive breakdown from the TSC on the number of teachers currently benefiting from the ASAL and hard-to-serve area allowances in Kitui County, alongside those who are not.
Wambua urged the Committee to push the Teachers Service Commission to institute reforms that will ensure all deserving teachers are included in the allowance scheme.
“This is not just about fairness, it’s about justice for teachers who dedicate themselves to educating children in some of the most challenging environments,” he emphasized.
The matter now lies with the Senate Education Committee, which is expected to engage the Teachers Service Commission and other relevant government bodies to respond to the issues raised.
