Housing project not our priority – Homa Bay teachers

By Robert Mutasi

Teachers in Homa Bay County have expressed opposition to the government's plan to introduce a three per cent deduction for the housing fund on their salaries.

Teachers officials from the Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) argue that the additional deduction if approved, will be a huge burden for them.

In an undated video posted by Daily Nation on Tuesday, KUPPET Homa Bay County Executive Secretary Stephen Yogo said that teachers will be unable to pay 3% of the housing fund as the majority cannot afford it.

He added that the housing plan by the government is not the teachers' priority.

"We have houses with our desired specifications," said Yogo.

The KUPPET official further pointed out that teachers' salaries already have more deductions and that a majority of them end up saving little.

"The teachers are currently earning only a third of their salaries and any other deductions will cause them pain as they will not be able to meet their daily needs. Of course, this bill stands rejected," he said.

"Some teachers have prioritized the education of their children," he added.

According to the unionist, as things stand, the ratio between teachers' basic needs and the salaries they earn is worse.

He noted that it is an irony for the government to introduce another deduction while they have not had a salary increase for the last 7 years.

The teachers union officials now want the National Assembly to shoot down the proposal on the introduction of the Housing Fund, contained in the Finance Bill 2023.