Teachers working in hardship-prone areas of Migori County have renewed calls for the government to urgently implement a long-promised hardship allowance.
Educators in Kuria West and Nyatike sub-counties say they continue to face unfair treatment despite operating in regions officially recognised as hardship zones.
Currently, only teachers in Kuria East Sub-County benefit from the allowance, which was introduced years ago. Before the former Kuria District was split, the area now known as Kuria East—then Kegoga Division—received hardship benefits through the efforts of the former area MP, the late Engineer Shadrack Manga. Since then, the allowance has remained limited to that region.
Teachers argue that this imbalance has created staffing challenges across neighbouring sub-counties. Many educators prefer postings in Kuria East, where the allowance is available, leaving Kuria West and Nyatike struggling with persistent teacher shortages. The situation has affected learning outcomes and increased workloads for those who remain.
Speaking during an education forum held over the weekend in Kehancha town, teachers expressed frustration over what they described as years of unfulfilled government promises. They called on local leaders and education authorities to intervene and ensure equitable treatment across all hardship-designated regions.
The teachers also accused the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) of failing to act despite government commitments to extend the allowance. They said the delay has negatively impacted morale and retention, particularly in remote and underserved schools.
In response, area Members of Parliament Matheus Robi and Tom Odege dismissed claims that they oppose the allowance. Mr. Odege stated that he fully supports the implementation, attributing the controversy to misinformation and politicisation of the issue.
“I have heard some teachers claiming that I am campaigning against the payment for political reasons. This is not true. I support the hardship allowance because of the difficult environment you are working in,” he said.
Mr. Robi echoed similar sentiments, emphasising the importance of motivating teachers through fair compensation. He warned that unequal benefits risk deepening staffing imbalances across the region.
“We do not want a situation where teachers flock to one sub-county while others are left with severe shortages. Motivation is key to performance,” he noted.
Although Kuria East is often highlighted in discussions about hardship conditions, both Kuria West and Nyatike face similar environmental and economic challenges. These include poor infrastructure, limited access to essential services, and harsh climatic conditions, all of which make teacher retention difficult.
Data on staffing levels in Migori County shows that while Kuria West may have a slightly higher number of teachers overall, both sub-counties suffer from significant understaffing and high student-teacher ratios. A 2017 study revealed a shortage of 233 teachers in Kuria West and 209 in Kuria East, underscoring the severity of the issue in both regions.
By George Agimba
