Learning in many Early Childhood Development Education (ECDE) centers across Murang’a County on Monday was disrupted as teachers held demonstrations demanding better pay and permanent employment terms.
The teachers staged demonstrations outside the governor’s office in Murang’a Town, insisting they will not return to classrooms until the county government grants them permanent and pensionable (PnP) terms and implements salaries recommended by the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC).
The educators accused the county administration of prioritizing other development projects while neglecting the welfare of teachers who play a critical role in laying the foundation for children’s education.
Speaking during the protest, ECDE teacher Felina Wamaitha said many teachers were struggling to make ends meet due to low salaries and the county’s failure to implement court directives on remuneration.
“We are earning Sh17,200, and after deductions some teachers take home about Sh14,000. With the current cost of living, it is becoming impossible to pay our bills and support our families,” she stated.
Wamaitha appealed to Governor Irungu Kang’ata to intervene, expressing confidence that the dispute could be resolved through dialogue.
She noted that SRC guidelines recommend monthly salaries of about Sh50,000 for degree holders, Sh40,000 for diploma holders, and Sh30,000 for certificate holders, figures the teachers say should be adopted by the county government.
Murang’a ECDE Teachers Coordinator Joyce Wanjiku said the current strike is the latest in a series of industrial actions undertaken by the teachers over the years.
According to Wanjiku, the teachers have repeatedly raised concerns about poor pay, lack of commuter and house allowances and insecure employment terms.
She revealed that over the weekend, teachers received communication from the county government proposing salary increments of Sh10,000 annually for degree holders, Sh6,000 for diploma holders, and Sh4,000 for certificate holders under fixed four-year contracts.
“The proposed terms are unfair because there was no room for negotiations. Teachers are being asked to sign contracts whose conditions do not adequately address our concerns. We want the governor to come and explain the proposal to us,” she said.
The teachers also received support from the County Government Workers Union, who’s National Treasurer John Kangethe accused the county of failing to honour court orders regarding the employment and remuneration of ECDE teachers.
Kangethe argued that Murang’a remains the only county in the Central Kenya region that has not fully implemented SRC recommendations for ECDE teachers.
“If other county workers are being paid according to SRC guidelines, why should ECDE teachers be treated differently? The county appears more focused on programmes such as the school porridge initiative while ignoring the welfare of teachers,” he said.
Another teacher, Lydia Kihara, maintained that the educators would only resume teaching once the county implements SRC salary structures and issues permanent and pensionable appointment letters.
The teachers urged the county government to comply with court orders and engage them in meaningful negotiations, saying the ongoing dispute was affecting both educators and learners in ECDE centers across the county.
However, the Murang’a County Government has maintained that the issues raised by the teachers have already been addressed in the proposed 2026/2027 budget.
In a statement, the county administration said salary adjustments and employment measures for ECDE teachers have been factored into the budget and will take effect once it is approved by the county assembly.
The county further stated that many teachers had already accepted the new arrangement, adding that interns who had served for more than one year would also be transitioned into regular employment positions.
According to the administration, the proposed package seeks to improve teachers’ terms of service while ensuring compliance with existing laws and safeguarding the sustainability of the county wage bill.
“The objective is to progressively place ECDE teachers on par with other county employees while ensuring fairness across all staff categories,” the statement read.
The county government argued that the substantive issues had largely been resolved through consultations and the budget-making process, claiming that the remaining disagreement was being driven by political interests.
Despite the county’s assurances, the teachers remain adamant that they will not return to work until their demands are fully addressed, setting the stage for a prolonged standoff that could continue to disrupt learning in ECDE centers across Murang’a.
By Bernard Munyao and Adrian Kirema
