
Homa Bay ECDE Teachers Employed Permanently, Salary Increased.
Teachers in Homa Bay County’s Early Childhood Development Education (ECDE) program have reason to smile after the outgoing administration reviewed their contracts for better terms, ten years after they were hired by the county government.
A total of 1,417 teachers were given new contracts, making them permanent, pensionable employees with higher pay.
Homa Bay is one of the first counties to award new contracts to ECDE teachers, with Governor Cyprian Awiti hailing it as a watershed moment in his administration.
Teachers had been lobbying for better working conditions since he was elected in 2013.
Most of them were unable to obtain bank loans because they lacked the necessary documents to serve as security in banks.
Mr. Awiti blamed the delays on a number of factors, including a dispute between the Kenya National Union of Teachers (Knut) and the Teachers Service Commission (TSC).
Knut was at odds with the TSC in 2014 over whether ECDE teachers should be employed at the county or national levels of government.
“Concerned bodies like the Salaries and Remuneration Commission, Teachers Service Commission, and the Council of Governors had to approve the new terms. There were some delays but we have finally achieved it,” Mr. Awiti said.
He stated that the breakthrough would be part of his legacy as he prepares to retire after serving two consecutive terms as allowed by the Constitution.
Mr. Awiti spoke at an event where he issued letters to teachers on Tuesday afternoon.
He informed the teachers that their pay had been increased in accordance with their level of education.
“We have teachers who have furthered their education and we have factored in all that. Salaries will be paid according to their level of education,” he said.
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Acting County Secretary Prof Donald Ogweno stated that the conversion will benefit teachers greatly because they will be able to participate in attractive pension schemes.
He told the teachers that now that they are permanent employees of the Homa Bay County government, they should enroll in pension plans that will help them grow as individuals.
Homa Bay ECDE Teachers Employed Permanently, Salary Increased