Education stakeholders in West Pokot County have protested the interdiction of more than 12 teachers in the County by Teachers Service Commission over exam irregularities.
Among the 12 are principals of two schools where exams were cancelled by Kenya National Examination Council over cheating.
This comes after KCSE results for Ortum Boys high School and Chepareria girls for 2017 were cancelled by KNEC over exam irregularities.
However the stakeholders including Teachers Union officials and parents have seen an alleged witch hunt in the matter brought by politicians.
Speaking in Kapenguria, the stakeholders among the West Pokot KNUT secretary Martin Sembelo criticised TSC for interdicting the teachers without proper procedure.
They added the the teachers are only victims of supremacy battle among politicians in the area who have been interfering with education matters.
“It is very wrong for TSC to sack teachers in such marginalised area where we have a serious problem of teachers staffing. We want TSC and KNEC to conduct thorough investigation before dismissing the teachers,” said Sembelo.
Sembelo added the Union will not allow TSC to intimidate teachers who have been working hard to serve the County.
“Our teachers did not participate in exam cheating. This is a foul play and TSC must show us the evidence,” he added.
Sembelo said the Union is following up the matter to ensure affected teachers get justice.
However, he warned politicians who’ve been interfering with school managements that the Union is going to crack the whip. “We’ll not allow rogue politicians to continue politicising education matters in this County,” he said.
A letter seen by the Media indicate that former Ortum boys principal Mr.Jonathan Siwanyang who had been transferred to Chewoyet boys has received his interdiction letter from TSC.
Also affected is former Chepareria principal who had been moved to St Josephs Girls in Kitale.
Others are primary school teachers who were among invigilators in two exam centres where exam results were cancelled by the exams body.