ECDE teachers in Siaya County has staged a protest against the county government over what they describe as persistent salary injustices, including delayed increments, unpaid arrears, and unexplained deductions from their monthly payslips. According to the teachers, their transition to permanent and pensionable terms in May 2023 was expected to bring stability, but instead many say it has exposed them to financial hardship and administrative discrimination.


Speaking through the Kenya Union of Pre-Primary Education Teachers (KUNOPET), Siaya branch Executive Secretary Elly Odongo said more than 600 teachers have gone for nearly eight months without receiving the salary adjustments indicated in their appointment letters. The union also raised concern over irregular payroll records, where some teachers reportedly found their payslip identification numbers linked to different names in the county system, fueling fears of payroll mismanagement. Several teachers further alleged that deductions for loans they never applied for have been appearing on their payslips, reducing their already strained earnings.


The protesting teachers are also demanding the settlement of gratuity arrears dating back to their years under temporary contracts between 2016 and 2023. They accuse the county government of failing to honor commitments made during their employment transition and warn that continued silence from county officials could disrupt learning in ECDE centres across the region. Education stakeholders note that salary disputes among ECDE teachers have become a national concern, with similar grievances being reported in other counties as teachers push for fair remuneration and transparent payroll systems.


KUNOPET has now called on the Siaya County Government to urgently address the grievances and restore confidence among the teachers, warning that failure to act may trigger a wider industrial action. The educators insist that those entrusted with laying the educational foundation for young learners deserve dignity, fairness, and prompt compensation for their service.