The Murang’a County government has appealed to Early Childhood Development Education (ECDE) teachers to sign a newly proposed employment contract that provides for gradual salary increments over the next four years.
Briefing the press on Friday at the county headquarters, Murang’a County Secretary Dr. Newton Mwangi said the county executive had agreed to review the teachers’ salaries upwards beginning July 1, 2026, in a move aimed at improving their welfare while remaining within the county’s financial capabilities.
Under the proposed arrangement, teachers holding degree qualifications will receive annual salary increments of Sh. 10,000; diploma holders will get Sh. 6,000, while certificate holders will receive an additional Sh. 4,000 each year.
Dr. Mwangi said the phased salary review would continue for four years until the teachers’ pay aligns with the levels recommended by the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC).
He urged the teachers to sign the contracts and allow normal learning activities in ECDE centres to resume, noting that the county government remains committed to addressing their concerns through dialogue and lawful processes.
However, the county administration dismissed demands by the teachers to be absorbed into permanent and pensionable terms, arguing that such a move would place an unsustainable financial burden on the county government.
According to Dr. Mwangi, Murang’a County’s wage bill currently stands at 52 per cent of its total revenue, significantly above the legal ceiling of 35 per cent set for county governments.
He said absorbing all 1, 200 ECDE teachers on permanent and pensionable terms would further strain public finances and affect service delivery.
The county secretary also pointed out that there is a conservatory court order currently in place suspending the implementation of a judgment by the Employment and Labor Relations Court that directed the county government to employ the teachers on permanent and pensionable terms.
He noted that implementing the court ruling in full would require the county to spend an additional Sh. 300 million annually, a cost he said would force the administration to scale down or suspend key development projects and social programmes.
Among the programmes likely to be affected, he said, is the county’s school feeding initiative that provides porridge to more than 40,000 children in ECDE centres.
Other sectors that could face budget cuts include healthcare services and infrastructure development projects.
Dr. Mwangi maintained that the county government values the role played by ECDE teachers in nurturing young learners and remains committed to finding a lasting solution to their grievances.
“As a responsible administration, we must balance the welfare of our teachers with our duty to all Murang’a residents and the law. We will continue engaging in good faith to find a sustainable solution,” he averred.
The appeal comes amid ongoing demonstrations by ECDE teachers in Murang’a who have on several occasions taken to the streets demanding permanent and pensionable employment.
The teachers argue that despite serving for years, many remain on contract terms that do not provide job security and adequate benefits.
The standoff has disrupted learning in some ECDE centres across the county, with both the teachers and the county government expressing willingness to continue negotiations in search of a mutually acceptable solution.
By Bernard Munyao
