Teachers in Kenya are fuming after their payslips showed deductions for the controversial housing levy, despite court rulings declaring it illegal.
The Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (Kuppet) has demanded an immediate refund and accused the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) of blatant disregard for the law.
Union Secretary General Akelo Misori called the deductions “illegal” and “horrifying,” highlighting the economic hardship teachers already face. He emphasized that Kuppet never supported the levy and demanded its immediate reversal.
In a press conference in Nairobi, he said, “As a union, Kuppet will take all measures to protect members’ hard-earned salaries and benefits. Our options include instituting contempt proceedings against TSC officials in their personal capacities.”
He pointed out a disturbing pattern where public authorities obey court orders at their convenience, expressing horror at TSC’s violation of court orders over the Housing Levy Fund.
Misori argued that despite clear and unambiguous orders by the High Court and the Court of Appeal declaring the housing tax illegal and unconstitutional, the commission deducted the tax from this month’s salaries.
“Amid the grave economic difficulties that teachers and all Kenyans face, the last thing we expect from a responsible employer is making of illegal deductions on workers’ pay-slips,” he added.
Kuppet demanded the immediate release of the illegally deducted taxes and sought assurance from the Commission to obey court orders in the future, specifically regarding the housing tax.
Misori clarified that the union never supported the Finance Bill and noted that the government’s salary raise of 7-10% aimed to mitigate the economic situation faced by all workers.
Challenging TSC’s claim of payroll preparation hindering a prompt response, he argued, “If TSC dares to say that it happened when they had already prepared the payroll, we have seen in this country teachers paid in the following month when there were errors on other smaller issues, now a big issue where Court of Appeal has given an order calls for a recall of the payroll that has gone to the bank.”
He emphasized that TSC has the technology to recall this action and urged them to do so, highlighting the union’s expectation of a responsible employer that listens to other arms of the government.
