TAITA TAVETA – Early Childhood Development Education (ECDE) across Taita Taveta County has ground to a halt for six consecutive days following a strike by teachers over long standing unpaid salary arrears. The ongoing industrial action has left thousands of young learners stranded, sparking widespread concern among parents and education stakeholders who rely on these foundational institutions for early childhood learning.
The growing crisis forced the Taita Taveta County Assembly to intervene on Tuesday afternoon during Session No. 061. Seeking a statement on behalf of Minority Leader Joseph Mwalegha, Sagala Ward MCA Bryson Mwambi challenged the Executive to take responsibility for the breakdown. Mwambi reminded the House that ECDE remains a fully devolved function, making it the County Government’s sole duty to ensure educators are adequately facilitated and remunerated without delay.
In a comprehensive request addressed to the Chairperson of the Committee on Education, Libraries and Vocational Training, Daniel Kimuyu, the Sagala representative demanded a full disclosure of the total outstanding arrears. Mwambi requested a detailed breakdown specifying the exact period the salaries have remained unpaid, the specific financial or administrative bottlenecks causing the delay, and the precise number of affected teachers categorized by sub-county and ward.
The assembly voiced strong frustration over the non-payment, pointing out that adequate funds are regularly approved by the House. Mwambi directly questioned why teachers are suffering despite consistent annual budgetary allocations meant for ECDE services. Echoing these sentiments, Wundanyi MCA Jimmy Mwamidi backed the motion, calling the ongoing wage delays unacceptable when the Assembly prioritizes recurrent expenditure every financial year.
Education Committee Chairperson Daniel Kimuyu is now expected to table a detailed response before the Assembly outlining the exact timeline for clearing the debt. Beyond accounting for the arrears, the House expects a concrete roadmap detailing immediate measures to end the strike, settle the payroll grievances, and safely resume learning for the county’s youngest pupils.
