Teachers decry flawed recruitment exercise

BY LEONARD KORIR.

Teachers and civic leaders in Trans Mara districts have protested against the just concluded teachers’ recruitment exercise terming it a sham.

Led by Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) Secretary General Mr Joseph Kitur and civic leaders, Joel Ruto (Angata Barrikoi ward) and Daniel Langat (Emurua Dikir ward), the leaders faulted the criterion used for recruitment.

According to the two leaders the exercise was tribal and based on clans hence locking out other communities unfairly.

Kitur launched attack against the District Education Board (DEB) claiming it was not well versed with its roles hence perpetuating tribalism and clannism in the process.

"The exercise was a total sham since merit was sacrificed at the altar of clannism. We witnessed applicants with the right qualifications denied opportunities only to be given to lowly qualified candidates favoured by their clan background," said Kitur.

Clanism

He said the culture of allocating jobs on the basis of clans and tribes was a primitive and old-fashioned method already overtaken by events.

"It is time this oppressive criterion is revised to ensure all residents irrespective of their tribes, gender and clans were given a fair opportunity to compete in the job market equally," said Kitur.

However, Kitur was optimistic that with the promulgation of the new constitution such shortcomings would be addressed.

Ruto called upon the area MP, Gideon Konchellah to address the issue saying the exercise was a constituency and not district affair.

Citing Angatta Barrikoi division largely inhabited by the Kipsigis community but falls under Trans Mara West district, Ruto said applicants from the area were being alienated on ethnic background.

"Only three out of 19 applicants managed to be taken after a long struggle while other clans were given not less than 10 slots," said Ruto.

The chairman of the DEB who is also the local DC Mr. Mbogo Mathioya said the criteria used has been there for years.

"It is difficult to convince the locals to break from the system because every clan claims to be given slots before other immigrant communities living in the area," explained the administrator.