Education Cabinet Secretary (CS) Migos Ogamba has announced a nationwide exercise to harmonise the classification of hardship areas in Kenya, a move aimed at eliminating long-standing disparities in allowance payments among teachers and other public servants.
Speaking during a local TV education program in Kilifi on Tuesday, September 23, Ogamba explained that the government is working on a central registry that will guide the gazettement of hardship zones. The registry, once complete, will serve as the official reference for all state departments, ensuring that allowances are distributed fairly to workers serving in difficult environments.
Currently, inconsistencies exist where some areas are recognised as hardship zones by certain state agencies but not by the Teachers Service Commission (TSC). This, the CS noted, has been a source of tension and complaints among educators who feel short-changed. “We want to bring fairness and order so that all public officers working under the same tough conditions are treated equally,” Ogamba said.
His remarks were reinforced by Principal Secretary for Basic Education, Dr. Julius Bitok, who pointed out that Kilifi is a clear example of a county that deserves fair classification due to its unique challenges. These include widespread poverty, entrenched cultural practices such as early marriages, and the long distances many learners have to walk to reach school.
The announcement comes against the backdrop of Kilifi’s disappointing 2024 KCSE results, in which only two students attained an A plain while nearly half of the candidates scored a D+ or below. Education stakeholders argue that such poor performance underscores the urgent need to address environmental and social obstacles facing schools in hardship regions.
By establishing a single, authoritative list of hardship areas, the Ministry of Education hopes to not only restore fairness in pay but also motivate teachers serving in disadvantaged regions. The government believes this will ultimately improve learning outcomes for students in counties such as Kilifi, Turkana, Mandera, and others where conditions are harsh.
The harmonisation exercise is expected to involve consultations with the TSC, the Public Service Commission, and other key agencies before the final registry is gazetted.
