The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) has stated that it is awaiting guidance from the Public Service Commission (PSC) before reviewing the hardship allowance policy and designated regions for teachers.
Speaking before the National Assembly Implementation Committee, TSC Acting CEO Eveleen Mitei explained that the commission continues to rely on the outdated Legal Notice No. 534 of 1997 in processing hardship allowances. Committee Chair Raphael Wanjala criticized this reliance, citing inequalities in how the allowances are distributed. He noted that within the same constituency, one school may qualify while another does not, leading to staffing imbalances.
Lawmakers also raised concerns about alleged corruption among field officers, who are accused of taking bribes to allocate hardship status to undeserving areas. This, MPs said, has led to overcrowding in some urban schools while rural schools remain understaffed. Kajiado East MP Kakuta Ole Maimai highlighted the disparity in his constituency, where urban schools are overwhelmed by teachers, but remote ones are left unattended.
While Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi had earlier announced plans to implement a revised hardship area classification to save Sh6 billion annually, Public Service CS Geoffrey Ruku later suspended the changes following backlash from teachers, civil servants, and elected leaders. The government now plans to revisit the matter in consultation with all relevant stakeholders.
Currently, the number of hardship areas varies across sectors: the TSC recognizes 44, while the Judiciary and civil service have 21 and 16, respectively. MPs have demanded a more transparent and fair approach, arguing that the current system is discriminatory and outdated.
