Education Cabinet Secretary, George Magoha, has warned teachers and Ministry of Education staff against involving themselves in politics during the schooling period.
Speaking in Kisii county on Friday, Magoha cautioned teachers against disrupting learning by engaging in open political discussions or attending political events at the expense of their duties.
According to Magoha, teachers are not allowed to openly announce which political parties or candidates they are supporting, neither are they allowed to campaign or engage in any political rallies.
I will not sit and watch as my staff and teachers join what I call stupid partisan politics. It has to stop because children don’t have political parties.
“I would want those who are tempted to still support parties privately. Do not go on an open display of who you support. My party is the party of children,” Magoha stated.
Magoha’s warning comes in the backdrop of a circular by the Teachers Service Commission which cautioned teachers from engaging in politics.
The strongly-worded circular restricted teachers from participating or engaging in any affairs of all political parties. The TSC acted after receiving a letter from the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC).
“In congruence with the spirit of national values and good governance under the constitution which includes impartiality and political neutrality, it is vital for all employees to abstain from taking part in political engagements,” TSC stated in the circular.
“The Commission further brings your attention that any of its employees who currently hold office or engages in political activities is in violation of the law and is liable to disciplinary action.”
Teachers have in the past been used as party agents to represent candidates during polls while others have acted as campaign agents.
Notably, teachers’ unions have had a tendency of openly declaring support for their preferred candidates in previous elections.
But earlier in the week, TSC termed as fake another circular allegedly addressed to school heads barring teachers from taking up polling jobs in August.
TSC insisted that the circular and statement did not emanate from it even as the electoral body prepares to hold interviews for the positions of polling clerks and presiding officers ahead of the elections.
The circular had stated that TSC blocked tutors from taking up August 9 poll jobs with the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC).
